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Patient Directed Recording of a Bipolar Three-Lead Electrocardiogram using a Smartwatch with ECG Function
Published on: December 11, 2019
Incidence rates, correlates, and prognosis of electrocardiographic P-wave abnormalities - a nationwide
Arttu O Lehtonen1, Ville L Langén2, Pauli J Puukka3
1Department of Health, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Turku, Finland; Department of Geriatrics, Turku City Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
Background:
Scant data exist on incidence rates, correlates, and prognosis of electrocardiographic P-wave abnormalities in the general population.
Methods:
We recorded ECG and measured conventional cardiovascular risk factors in 5667 Finns who were followed up for incident atrial fibrillation (AF). We obtained repeat ECGs from 3089 individuals 11years later.
Results:
The incidence rates of prolonged P-wave duration, abnormal P terminal force (PTF), left P-wave axis deviation, and right P-wave axis deviation were 16.0%, 7.4%, 3.4%, and 2.2%, respectively. Older age and higher BMI were associated with incident prolonged P-wave duration and abnormal PTF (P≤0.01). Higher blood pressure was associated with incident prolonged P-wave duration and right P-wave axis deviation (P≤0.01). During follow-up, only prolonged P-wave duration predicted AF (multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio, 1.38; P=0.001).
Conclusions:
Modifiable risk factors associate with P-wave abnormalities that are common and may represent intermediate steps of atrial cardiomyopathy on a pathway leading to AF.
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