title: Prolonged P wave dispersion in pre-diabetic patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is known that overt diabetes as well as chronic hyperglycaemia can lead to atrial fibrillation. A P wave dispersion (PWD) represents heterogeneity in atrial refractoriness.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate PWDs in patients with pre-diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Based on the results of examinations, 84 pre-diabetic patients (the pre-DM group; 50 female, 34 male; mean age 54 ± 8.6 years) who had no overt diabetes, coronary artery disease or hypertension, whose fasting blood glucose was higher than 100 mg/dL and/or whose 2 h glucose concentrations on an oral glucose tolerance test was in the range of 140 to 199 mg/dL, and 48 healthy volunteers (the non-DM group, 30 female, 18 male; mean age 51.7 ± 7.3 years) with no illnesses, were enrolled in this study. Standard 12-lead electrocardiograms of all patients were taken at 50 mm/s and 20 mm/mV standardisation. Maximum (P(max)) and minimum (P(min)) P-wave durations were measured. The PWD was defined as the difference between P(max) and P(min).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The P(max) and PWD values were significantly higher in pre-DM compared to non-DM (104 ± 13 ms vs 98 ± 12 ms; p < 0.05, 42 ± 13 ms vs 34 ± 11 ms; p <0.01 respectively). A positive correlation was found between PWD and fasting blood glucose (r = 0.32; p < 0.01). There was no correlation between PWD and HbA(1c) levels (r = 19; p > 0.05). Multivariate regression analysis showed no relationship between PWD and age, left atrial diameter, E, A, E/A or HbA(1c). However, there was a relationship between PWD and fasting blood glucose.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The P(max) and PWD are increased in pre-diabetic patients who have no coronary artery disease, hypertension or left ventricular hypertrophy
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Karaelmas University, Zonguldak, Turkey. turgutkarabag@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Turgut
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Karabag
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aydin
authors.forename: Sait M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Dogan
authors.forename: Mehmet Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Cetiner
authors.forename: M Rasit
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Sayin
authors.forename: Naile E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Gudul
authors.forename: Emrah
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kucuk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001786:Blood Glucose; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose