title: Assessment of atrial conduction time in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is closely related to increased cardiovascular risk in women of reproductive age. Atrial conduction abnormalities in these patients have not been investigated in terms of atrial electromechanical delay measured by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) as an early predictor of atrial fibrillation development. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether TDI-derived atrial conduction time is prolonged in PCOS.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 51 patients with PCOS and 48 age-matched healthy controls. P-wave dispersion (PWD) was calculated on the 12-lead surface electrocardiogram. Systolic and diastolic left ventricular (LV) functions, atrial electromechanical coupling, intraatrial and interatrial electromechanical delays were measured with conventional echocardiography and TDI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PWD was higher in PCOS women (50.45 ± 3.7 vs 34.73 ± 6.7 ms, p = 0.008). Interatrial and intraatrial electromechanical delay were found longer in patients with PCOS compared to controls (41.9 ± 9.0 vs 22.2 ± 6.6 ms, p < 0.001; 22.6 ± 5.8 vs 5.9 ± 4.7 ms, p < 0.001, respectively). Left atrial (LA) volume index and LV diastolic parameters were significantly different between the groups. PWD was correlated with interatrial electromechanical delay (r = 0.54, p < 0.01). Interatrial electromechanical delay was strongly correlated with homeostatic model assessment insulin resistance index and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels (r = 0.68, p < 0.001; r = 0.53, p < 0.001, respectively). Interatrial electromechanical delay was positively correlated with LA volume index and deceleration time (r = 0.31, p = 0.04; r = 0.37, p = 0.021, respectively) and negatively correlated with flow propagation velocity (r = -0.38, p = 0.014).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that atrial electromechanical delay is prolonged in PCOS patients. Atrial electromechanical delay prolongation is related to low-grade inflammation, insulin resistance, and LV diastolic dysfunction in PCOS.
authors.affiliation: Kartal Kosuyolu Heart and Research Hospital, Cardiology Department, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Regayip
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zehir
authors.forename: Can Yucel
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Karabay
authors.forename: Gonenc
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kocabay
authors.forename: Arzu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kalayci
authors.forename: Ozge
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kaymaz
authors.forename: Ahmet Cagrı
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Aykan
authors.forename: Emre
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Karabay
authors.forename: Cevat
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kirma
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D053840:Brugada Syndrome; D000075224:Cardiac Conduction System Disease; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000379:methods*; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000002:abnormalities*; D006334:Heart Function Tests; D006801:Humans; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013997:Time Factors; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color / Q000379:methods