The effect of conversion type on P wave dispersion in patients with atrial fibrillation.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate whether conversion type of atrial fibrillation (AF) to sinus rhythm affects the P wave dispersion (PD) in patients with AF.


METHODS
Based on conversion type, 95 consecutive patients with AF<3 months were divided into 3 groups: spontaneous cardioversion (SC) (N.=33, mean age: 60.6+/-11.6 years), pharmacologic cardioversion (PC) (N.=32, mean age: 59.2+/-9.6 years) and electrical cardioversion (EC) (N.= 30, mean age: 65.3+/-10.6 years). P wave duration (maximum and minimum) were measured in 12-lead ECG, and PD was calculated.


RESULTS
Left atrial diameter and AF duration were significantly higher in EC (43.6+/-4.8 mm and 794.1+/-815.1 h) than SC (38.5+/-3.9 mm and 13.8+/-18.3 h) and PC (40.9+/-4.5 mm and 65.3+/-148.5 h) groups (P<0.01). P maximum was much longer in EC group compared with SC and PC group (121.6+/-9.7, 108.4+/-6.4 and 115.8+/-8.6 ms, P=0.01, respectively). There was a significant difference in PD among SC, PC and EC groups (44.4+/-9.2, 49.5+/-8.7 and 53.5+/-8.8 ms; P=0.005, respectively). PD correlated with AF duration (r=0.36, P=0.03), left atrial diameter (r=0.45, P=0.002) and conversion type (r=0.29, P=0.03). However, there was no significant association between PD and conversion type in multivariate analysis. The prolonged PD resulted from AF duration (P=0.01) and the left atrial size P=0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that conversion type of AF to sinus rhythm has no effect on P wave duration and independent of AF duration and the left atrial diameter.
Dogan
A
A
Department of Cardiology, Medical School, Suleyman Demirel University, and Cardiology Unit, Public Hospital, Isparta, Turkey.
Varol
E
E
Ozaydin
M
M
Acar
G
G
Gedikli
O
O
Altinbas
A
A
Kinay
O
O
Nazli
C
C
Kahraman
H
H
Ergene
O
O
D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D004554:Electric Countershock / Q000379:methods; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged