title: Relationship between P wave dispersion, left ventricular mass index and blood pressure.
abstract: The study of arterial hypertension risk factors in children guarantees the establishment of health policies to avoid complications associated with this illness in the future. The highest values of P-wave dispersion during sinus rhythm are pointed as predictors of atrial fibrillation in adulthood since there is an association between arterial hypertension, P-wave dispersion and left ventricular hypertrophy. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between blood pressure, left ventricular mass index and P-wave dispersion in the pediatric population.
  
  
  
  In the frame of the PROCDEC II project, children from 8 to 11 years old, without known heart conditions were studied. Arterial blood pressure was measured in all the children; a 12-lead surface ECG and an echocardiogram were done as well.
  
  
  
  Left ventricular mass index mean values for normotensive (25.21 ± 5.96 g/m²) and hypertensive (30.38 ± 7.39 g/m²) children showed significant differences (p= 0.000). The mean value of the left atrial area was significantly different (p= 0.000) when comparing prehypertensive (10.98 ± 2.23 cm2) and hypertensive (12.21 ± 1.27 cm²) children to normotensive ones (10.66 ± 2.38 cm²). The correlation of P-wave dispersion and the left ventricular mass index showed an r= 0.87 and p= 0.000.
  
  
  
  P-wave dispersion is increased in pre- and hypertensive children compared to normotensive ones. A dependence of the P-wave dispersion of the left ventricular mass index was found in hypertensive children.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Electrofisiología y Estimulación Cardíaca, Cardiocentro Ernesto Che Guevara. elibet@capiro.vcl.sld.cu
authors.forename: Elibet
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chávez
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: María Del C
authors.initials: Mdel C
authors.lastname: Llanes
authors.forename: Merlin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garí
authors.forename: Yosvany
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: Julieta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: García Sáez
mesh_terms: D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009929:Organ Size