Assessment of atrial electromechanical interval and P wave dispersion in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with increased cardiovascular risk, including ischemic stroke. Prolonged atrial electromechanical interval (EMI) is related to increased atrial fibrillation (AF) risk. The aim of the study is to evaluate atrial EMI and electrocardiographic P-wave indices related to increased AF risk in patients with PCOS.

Forty PCOS patients diagnosed on the basis of the Rotterdam criteria and 20 age-matched controls were prospectively included. patients with atrioventricular or intraventricular conduction abnormalities, dysrhythmia or taking antiarrhythmic drugs, atherosclerotic heart disease, cardiomyopathies, valvular lesions, pericardial disease, a history of pulmonary emboli or pulmonary hypertension, and abnormal thyroid function were excluded. Intra and interatrial EMI were measured by tissue Doppler imaging and P-wave dispersion (Pd) was calculated on 12-lead electrocardiography (ECG). The Isovolumetric relaxation time was the interval between the aortic valve closure artifact at the end of the LV outflow envelope and the mitral valve opening artifact at the beginning of the mitral E wave.

Patients with PCOS had significantly higher interatrial [38 (24-65) ms vs. 16 (9-19) ms p<0.001], left-sided intra-atrial (14.8±6.1 vs. 7±1.7 ms, p<0.001), and right-sided intra-atrial (22.3±8.1 vs. 8.6±3.6 ms, p<0.001) EMI compared with the control group. Pd was significantly greater in the PCOS group compared with control group [45 (27-60) ms vs. 30 (26-38) ms, p<0.001]. Echocardiographic parameters of atrial EMI were significantly correlated with body mass index, Pd, and isovolumetric relaxation time in patients with PCOS.

PCOS is associated with prolonged inter- and intra-atrial conduction times, which are related to increased AF risk.