Effect of weight loss on P wave dispersion in obese subjects.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate effect of loss weight on P wave dispersion in obese subjects.


METHODS
After a 12-week weight loss program (diet and medical therapy), a total of 30 (24 women and six men) obese subjects who had lost at least 10% of their original weight were included in the present study. All subjects underwent a routine standard 12-lead surface electrocardiogram. Electrocardiograms were transferred to a personal computer by a scanner and then magnified 400 times by Adobe Photoshop software (Adobe Systems, Mountain View, CA). P wave dispersion, which is also defined as the difference between the maximum P wave duration and the minimum P wave duration, was also calculated.


RESULTS
After a 12-week weight loss program, BMI (p < 0.001), maximum P wave duration (p < 0.001), and P wave dispersion (p < 0.001) significantly decreased. The mean percentage of weight loss was 13% (10% to 20.3%). The decrease in the level of P wave dispersion (21 +/- 10 and 7 +/- 12 ms, p < 0.002) was more prominent in Group II (>or=12% loss of their original weight) than Group I (<12% loss of their original weight) after the weight loss program. A statistically significant correlation between decrease in the level of P wave dispersion and percentage of weight loss was found (r = 0.624, p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Substantial weight loss in obese subjects is associated with a decrease of P wave duration and dispersion. Therefore, these observations suggest that substantial weight loss is associated with improvement in atrial repolarization abnormalities in obese subjects.
Duru
Mehmet
M
Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Mustafa Kemal University, 31100 Antakya, Hatay, Turkey. mduru1970@yahoo.com.tr
Seyfeli
Ergun
E
Kuvandik
Guven
G
Kaya
Hasan
H
Yalcin
Fatih
F
D000328:Adult; D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007783:Lactones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D000077403:Orlistat; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology*
D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D007783:Lactones; D014280:Triglycerides; D000077403:Orlistat; D002784:Cholesterol