title: Long-term effects of beta blocker therapy on P-wave duration and dispersion in congestive heart failure patients: a new effect?
abstract: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with heart failure in approximately 20%-50% of patients with increased morbidity and mortality. P-wave maximum duration (PWM) and P-wave dispersion (PWD) are recent ECG markers and reflect increased risk of AF. The aim of our study was to investigate the long-term effects of metoprolol on atrial conduction abnormalities as estimated by PWM and PWD, which were calculated on 12-derivation surface ECG in heart failure patients. Forty-two NYHA class 3 to 4 patients (23 males, 19 females and aged 52.9 +/- 11.2) were enrolled in the study. At the end of the 6 months, PWM and PWD values were significantly decreased (for PWM: from 115.2 +/- 12.6 to 105.4 +/- 13.5; for PWD: from 39.3 +/- 9.1 to 28.6 +/- 10.5; P <.001 for both). Metoprolol treatment is associated with a decreased duration of PWM and PWD and this may reflect a reduction in the probability of atrial fibrillation in heart failure patients.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Mersin University Faculty of Medicine, Mersin, Turkey. ahmetcamsari@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Camsari
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pekdemir
authors.forename: M Necdet
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Akkus
authors.forename: Senay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yenihan
authors.forename: Oben
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Döven
authors.forename: V Gökhan
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Cin
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008790:Metoprolol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D008790:Metoprolol