title: P-wave and QT dispersion in spinal cord injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Spinal cord injury (SCI) can lead to significant cardiac arrhythmia. However, P-wave, QT dispersion, and risk factors in these patients have not been widely investigated. In this study, we assessed whether there is a relationship between electrocardiogram (ECG) parameters and risk factors in SCI patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population consisted of 85 SCI patients and 38 control subjects. P-wave durations were measured using 12 leads of the surface ECG. P-wave dispersion was defined as the difference between the P-wave maximum and P-wave minimum duration. QT dispersion was defined as the difference between the largest and smallest QT interval for any of the 12 leads (QTmax-QT-min). QT intervals were also corrected (QTc) in accordance with the heart rate using Bazett's formula (QT Interval/√[RR interval]). We also evaluated the independent risk factors for P-wave dispersion and QT dispersion in SCI patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The P-wave minimum, P-wave maximum, QT minimum, and dispersion were significantly different between the control and SCI groups. There was no significant difference in P-wave dispersion, QT maximum, or QTc. Multivariate regression analysis showed that disease duration, glucose and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels, and systolic tension were independent risk factors for P-wave dispersion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results demonstrate that QT dispersion is related to SCI and that P-wave dispersion was linked to the duration of SCI, HDL-C and glucose levels, and arterial tension in SCI patients.
authors.affiliation: Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ayla
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akbal
authors.forename: Aydan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kurtaran
authors.forename: Aysel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gürcan
authors.forename: Barın
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Selçuk
authors.forename: Hikmetullah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Batgi
authors.forename: Müfit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akyüz
authors.forename: Ferhat
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gökmen
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Coşar
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Güven
authors.forename: Adem
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bozkurt Aras
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*