title: Influence of age on atrial activation as measured by the P-wave signal-averaged electrocardiogram.
abstract: We used the P-wave signal-averaged electrocardiogram (SAECG) prospectively in 93 healthy volunteers of different ages and observed: (1) a positive correlation between P-wave duration on the SAECG and age (r = 0.39, p < 0.0001); and (2) the proportion of subjects with prolonged P-wave duration was increased with older age. These findings confirm the hypothesis that age-related atrial conduction delay in healthy subjects is present, and detectable by the P-wave SAECG.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center and Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York 10025, USA.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Babaev
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Vloka
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sadurski
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Steinberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016275:Atrial Function; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000254:growth & development*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors