title: Assessment of P wave duration and dispersion in Parkinson's disease.
abstract: Cardiovascular disorders such as decreased heart rate variability, orthostatic hypotension, and arrhythmias have been frequently observed in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. In this study, authors measured P wave duration and dispersion in PD patients and controls. Twenty-three consecutive patients with idiopathic PD and sex-age matched 23 control subjects were included to the study. A 12-lead surface ECG was obtained from each participant. Maximum-minimum P wave duration and P wave dispersion (PWD) were measured in both groups. Maximum P wave duration was found to be higher in PD patients than controls (117+/-12 vs. 105+/-9 ms p=0.001). Minimum P wave duration was similar in PD patients and controls (64+/-11 vs. 63+/-11 ms p=0.7). PWD in PD patients was also found to be higher than those of controls (53+/-11 vs. 43+/-10 ms p=0.0001). P wave duration and PWD did not significantly differ between PD patients taking anti-parkinsonian agents from those who were not (119+/-13 vs. 116+/-13 ms p=0.4 and 55+/-11 vs. 52+/-11 ms p=0.5, respectively). Moreover, when the PD patients taking anti-parkinsonian agents were excluded from the study, PD patients had still higher P wave duration and PWD compared to controls (119+/-11 vs. 105+/-9 ms p=0.004, 52+/-10 vs. 43+/-10 ms p=0.009, respectively). In conclusion, we found that P wave duration and PWD were greater in PD patients compared to control subjects.
authors.affiliation: Dr Lütfi Kirdar Kartal Education and Research Hospital, Department of Neurology, Istanbul, Turkey. abdulkadirkocer@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Abdulkadir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kocer
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Karakaya
authors.forename: Irfan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Barutcu
authors.forename: Ozlem
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Batukan Esen
authors.forename: Ramazan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kargin
authors.forename: Füsun
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mayda Domac
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*