Sinus and paced P wave duration and dispersion as predictors of atrial fibrillation after pacemaker implantation in patients with isolated sick sinus syndrome.
The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the sinus and the paced P wave duration and dispersion as predictors of AF after pacemaker implantation in patients with isolated sick sinus syndrome (SSS). The study included 109 (69 women, mean age 72 +/- 11 years) patients with SSS, 59 with bradycardia-tachycardia syndrome (BTS). A 12-lead ECG was recorded before pacemaker implantation and during high right atrial and septal right atrial pacing at 70 and 100 beats/min. The ECGs were scanned into a computer and analyzed on screen. The patients were treated with AAIR (n = 52) or DDDR pacing. The P wave duration was measured in each lead and mean P wave duration and P wave dispersion were calculated for each ECG. AF during follow-up was defined as: AF in an ECG at or between follow-up visits; an atrial high rate episode with a rate of > or =220 beats/min for > or =5 minutes, atrial sensing with a rate of > or =170 beats/min in > or =5% of total counted beats, mode-switching in >/=5% of total time recorded, or a mode switching episode of > or =5 minutes recorded by the pacemaker telemetry. The ECG parameters were correlated to AF during follow-up. Mean follow-up was 1.5 +/- 0.9 years. None of the ECG parameters differed between patients with AF and patients without AF during follow-up, nor was there any difference between groups after correction for BTS and age. BTS was the strongest predictor of AF during follow-up (P < 0.001). P wave duration and dispersion measured before and during pacemaker implantation were not predictive of AF after pacemaker implantation in patients with isolated SSS.
Kristensen
Lene
L
Department of Cardiology, Skejby Hospital, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
Nielsen
Jens Cosedis
JC
Mortensen
Peter Thomas
PT
Christensen
Per Dahl
PD
Vesterlund
Thomas
T
Pedersen
Anders Kirstein
AK
Andersen
Henning Rud
HR
D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012804:Sick Sinus Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy