title: Increased p wave dispersion in elite athletes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few studies have been performed on P wave indices in athletes. The aim of this study was to determine the behaviour of maximum P wave duration (Pmax), minimum P wave duration (Pmin) and P wave dispersion (PWD) in young high performance athletes, as well as the relationship of PWD with training history, heart rate (HR) and echocardiographic parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a cross-sectional observational study in 38 athletes of high performance in sports: water polo, distance running and weight lifting compared with 34 sedentary controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average age in both groups was 20.6 years. Note that PWD was increased in athletes (57 ± 14 ms vs. 40 ± 12 ms, p <0.001) while Pmin was significantly lower (57 ± 13 ms vs. 72 ± 13 ms, p <0.001), and there was no difference when comparing Pmax (114 ± 9 ms vs. 117 ± 14 ms, p> 0.05). The correlation between the duration of training (r = 0.511) and resting HR (r = 0.461) with PWD was significant (p <0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PWD is increased in young athletes of high performance and was positively correlated with duration of training and baseline HR. The increase in PWD was secondary to a significant decrease in Pmin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Cardiac Electrophysioloy and Pacing, Cardiocenter "Ernesto Che Guevara", Santa Clara, CUBA.
authors.forename: Raimundo Carmona
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Puerta
authors.forename: Ebrey Leon
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Aliz
authors.forename: Magda A Rabassa
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lopez-Calleja
authors.forename: Ramiro Ramos
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Ramirez
authors.forename: Gustavo Padron
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Pena