Prevalence and prognostic significance of abnormal P terminal force in lead V1 of the ECG in the general population.
BACKGROUND
Prevalence and prognostic significance of abnormal P terminal force (PTF) in the general population are not known. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of abnormal PTF and to compare clinical outcomes of middle-aged subjects with and without the PTF.


RESULTS
The presence of PTF was assessed in a cohort of 10 647 middle-aged subjects (mean age [SD], 44 [8] years; 47.2% female). The subjects were followed 35 to 41 years, and data on mortality and hospitalizations were obtained from national registers. Primary outcomes were all-cause mortality, cardiac mortality, and arrhythmic death. Secondary outcomes were hospitalization because of congestive heart failure, coronary heart disease, new onset atrial fibrillation, and stroke. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess the risk for death (all-cause), and the Fine and Gray competing risks model was used for other outcomes. The prevalence of PTF 0.04 to 0.049, 0.05 to 0.059, and ≥0.06 mm·s were 4.8%, 1.5%, and 1.2%, respectively. Subjects presenting PTF ≥0.04 mm·s were at increased risk for death, cardiac death, and congestive heart failure, and subjects presenting PTF ≥0.06 mm·s were at increased risk for atrial fibrillation. However, after adjustment for potential confounding factors, an increased risk was observed only for death (hazard ratio, 1.76; 95% confidence interval, 1.45-2.12; P<0.001) and atrial fibrillation (hazard ratio, 1.91; 95% confidence interval, 1.34-2.73; P<0.001) in subjects presenting PTF ≥0.06 mm·s.


CONCLUSIONS
PTF ≥0.04 mm·s is a relatively common finding in a 12-lead ECG of middle-aged subjects. PTF ≥0.06 mm·s is associated with increased risk for atrial fibrillation and death in the general population.
From the Department of Internal Medicine, Päijät-Häme Central Hospital, Lahti, Finland (A.E., T.K., O.A.); Division of Cardiology, Heart and Lung Center, Helsinki University Central Hospital (A.L.A.) and Department of Health, Functional Capacity and Welfare, National Institute of Health and Welfare (H.A.R., P.K.), Helsinki, Finland; and Department on Internal Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Medical Research Center Oulu, University Hospital & University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland (J.T.T., M.J.J., T.V.K., H.V.H.). antti.eranti@helsinki.fi.
Antti
A
Eranti
From the Department of Internal Medicine, Päijät-Häme Central Hospital, Lahti, Finland (A.E., T.K., O.A.); Division of Cardiology, Heart and Lung Center, Helsinki University Central Hospital (A.L.A.) and Department of Health, Functional Capacity and Welfare, National Institute of Health and Welfare (H.A.R., P.K.), Helsinki, Finland; and Department on Internal Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Medical Research Center Oulu, University Hospital & University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland (J.T.T., M.J.J., T.V.K., H.V.H.).
Aapo L
AL
Aro
From the Department of Internal Medicine, Päijät-Häme Central Hospital, Lahti, Finland (A.E., T.K., O.A.); Division of Cardiology, Heart and Lung Center, Helsinki University Central Hospital (A.L.A.) and Department of Health, Functional Capacity and Welfare, National Institute of Health and Welfare (H.A.R., P.K.), Helsinki, Finland; and Department on Internal Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Medical Research Center Oulu, University Hospital & University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland (J.T.T., M.J.J., T.V.K., H.V.H.).
Tuomas
T
Kerola
From the Department of Internal Medicine, Päijät-Häme Central Hospital, Lahti, Finland (A.E., T.K., O.A.); Division of Cardiology, Heart and Lung Center, Helsinki University Central Hospital (A.L.A.) and Department of Health, Functional Capacity and Welfare, National Institute of Health and Welfare (H.A.R., P.K.), Helsinki, Finland; and Department on Internal Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Medical Research Center Oulu, University Hospital & University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland (J.T.T., M.J.J., T.V.K., H.V.H.).
Olli
O
Anttonen
From the Department of Internal Medicine, Päijät-Häme Central Hospital, Lahti, Finland (A.E., T.K., O.A.); Division of Cardiology, Heart and Lung Center, Helsinki University Central Hospital (A.L.A.) and Department of Health, Functional Capacity and Welfare, National Institute of Health and Welfare (H.A.R., P.K.), Helsinki, Finland; and Department on Internal Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Medical Research Center Oulu, University Hospital & University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland (J.T.T., M.J.J., T.V.K., H.V.H.).
Harri A
HA
Rissanen
From the Department of Internal Medicine, Päijät-Häme Central Hospital, Lahti, Finland (A.E., T.K., O.A.); Division of Cardiology, Heart and Lung Center, Helsinki University Central Hospital (A.L.A.) and Department of Health, Functional Capacity and Welfare, National Institute of Health and Welfare (H.A.R., P.K.), Helsinki, Finland; and Department on Internal Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Medical Research Center Oulu, University Hospital & University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland (J.T.T., M.J.J., T.V.K., H.V.H.).
Jani T
JT
Tikkanen
From the Department of Internal Medicine, Päijät-Häme Central Hospital, Lahti, Finland (A.E., T.K., O.A.); Division of Cardiology, Heart and Lung Center, Helsinki University Central Hospital (A.L.A.) and Department of Health, Functional Capacity and Welfare, National Institute of Health and Welfare (H.A.R., P.K.), Helsinki, Finland; and Department on Internal Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Medical Research Center Oulu, University Hospital & University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland (J.T.T., M.J.J., T.V.K., H.V.H.).
M Juhani
MJ
Junttila
From the Department of Internal Medicine, Päijät-Häme Central Hospital, Lahti, Finland (A.E., T.K., O.A.); Division of Cardiology, Heart and Lung Center, Helsinki University Central Hospital (A.L.A.) and Department of Health, Functional Capacity and Welfare, National Institute of Health and Welfare (H.A.R., P.K.), Helsinki, Finland; and Department on Internal Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Medical Research Center Oulu, University Hospital & University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland (J.T.T., M.J.J., T.V.K., H.V.H.).
Tuomas V
TV
Kenttä
From the Department of Internal Medicine, Päijät-Häme Central Hospital, Lahti, Finland (A.E., T.K., O.A.); Division of Cardiology, Heart and Lung Center, Helsinki University Central Hospital (A.L.A.) and Department of Health, Functional Capacity and Welfare, National Institute of Health and Welfare (H.A.R., P.K.), Helsinki, Finland; and Department on Internal Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Medical Research Center Oulu, University Hospital & University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland (J.T.T., M.J.J., T.V.K., H.V.H.).
Paul
P
Knekt
From the Department of Internal Medicine, Päijät-Häme Central Hospital, Lahti, Finland (A.E., T.K., O.A.); Division of Cardiology, Heart and Lung Center, Helsinki University Central Hospital (A.L.A.) and Department of Health, Functional Capacity and Welfare, National Institute of Health and Welfare (H.A.R., P.K.), Helsinki, Finland; and Department on Internal Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Medical Research Center Oulu, University Hospital & University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland (J.T.T., M.J.J., T.V.K., H.V.H.).
Heikki V
HV
Huikuri
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D002423:Cause of Death; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012042:Registries; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors
atrial fibrillation; electrocardiography; mortality; population