title: Comparison of sinoatrial conduction time measured by Holter method and premature stimulation method.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The reliability of noninvasive Holter method for the calculation of sinoatrial conduction time (SACT) has not been confirmed by results of invasive electrophysiological studies of sinus nodal function. The aim of this study was to compare the values of SACT obtained by Holter method with values estimated by premature atrial stimulation method.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population consisted of 61 patients, in whom the 24-hour ambulatory ECG monitoring had shown the occurrence of atrial premature beats. All these subjects were undergoing electrophysiological study including programmed atrial and ventricular stimulation. The measurements of SACT were obtained using spontaneous atrial premature beats (Holter method) and high right atrial stimulation (Strauss method).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a good correlation between measurements of SACT by Holter method and Strauss method (r = 0.79; P < 0.001). There was no significant difference between values of SACT estimated by two compared methods. However, in certain patients, there were appreciable differences and SACT measured using spontaneous premature beats was shorter in 34 and longer in 23 patients than that estimated by the Strauss method. The values of SACT calculated by Holter method and Strauss method were significantly (P < 0.001) higher in patients with sick sinus syndrome than in those without evidence of sinus node dysfunction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Good correlation between values of SACT obtained by two compared methods suggests that single measurement performed using Holter method may be adequate for reliable calculation of SACT.
authors.affiliation: Military Institute of Medicine, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Elżbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kramarz
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Cardiology, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Ryszard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Piotrowicz
authors.affiliation: Military Institute of Medicine, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Krystian
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Krzyzanowski
authors.affiliation: Military Institute of Medicine, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Paulina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kramarz
mesh_terms: D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012804:Sick Sinus Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012849:Sinoatrial Node / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: Holter ECG monitoring; programmed atrial stimulation; sick sinus syndrome; sinoatrial conduction time