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P-wave duration changes and dispersion in preeclampsia
Ozgur Kirbas1, Ebru Hacer Biberoglu2, Ayse Kirbas2
1Department of Cardiology, Yuksek Ihtisas Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Insights
Preeclampsia is linked to future cardiovascular risks. Abnormal P wave measurements in pregnant women with preeclampsia may help identify those at higher risk for heart issues.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Obstetrics
- Electrophysiology
Background:
- Preeclampsia is a serious pregnancy complication associated with increased long-term cardiovascular disease risk.
- Current methods for assessing future cardiovascular risk in preeclamptic women are limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between preeclampsia and future cardiovascular risk using P wave parameters.
- To explore the correlation between P wave characteristics and the severity of preeclampsia.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study comparing 58 women with preeclampsia and 30 normal pregnant women.
- Measurement of maximum and minimum P-wave durations and P-wave dispersion (Pd) in the late third trimester.
Main Results:
- Significantly lower minimum P wave values and higher P-wave dispersion (Pd) were observed in the preeclampsia group compared to controls.
- Severe preeclampsia cases exhibited higher Pd values than mild preeclampsia cases.
Conclusions:
- Preeclampsia is associated with altered P wave parameters, suggesting predisposition to future cardiovascular complications like arrhythmias.
- P wave duration and Pd may serve as noninvasive tools for screening preeclamptic women at increased cardiovascular risk.
- These findings support closer monitoring and targeted lifestyle counseling for women with a history of preeclampsia.
Objective:
The purpose of this research was to study P wave parameters to determine the association between preeclampsia and future cardiovascular risk and to study the possible correlation between P waves and severity of preeclampsia.
Study Design:
In this case-control study 58 pregnant women with preeclampsia and 30 normal pregnant women were compared by measuring maximum and minimum P-wave durations and P-wave dispersion (Pd) in the late third trimester.
Results:
Minimum P wave values were lower and Pd values were higher, both significantly, in the preeclampsia groups than in the control group. In addition, the Pd values of the severe preeclampsia group were higher compared to that of the mild preeclampsia group.
Conclusion:
Preeclampsia predisposes the patient to future cardiovascular complications including atrial or ventricular arrhythmias, but validated tools to assess the risks are yet not available. P-wave duration and Pd constitute a recent contribution to the field of noninvasive electrocardiology. Our data clearly demonstrated that minimum P wave and Pd values were significantly altered in preeclamptic pregnant women when compared to the controls. This important association can be used to screen women for increased risk in order to better target counseling regardinglifestyle modifications and to follow up and manage women with a history of preeclampsia more closely.
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