title: Increased P-wave dispersion a risk for atrial fibrillation in adolescents with anorexia nervosa.
abstract: Studies have shown that a prolonged P-wave dispersion is a risk factor for the development of atrial fibrillation. The aim of this study was to evaluate P-wave dispersion in adolescents with anorexia nervosa at diagnosis. We evaluated electrocardiographic findings, particularly the P-wave dispersion, at initial assessment in 47 adolescents with anorexia nervosa. Comparison of P-wave dispersion between adolescents with anorexia nervosa and controls showed a statistically significant higher P-wave dispersion in patients with anorexia nervosa (72 ± 16.3 msec) when compared to the control group (43.8 ± 9.5 msec). Percent of body weight lost, lower body mass index, and higher weight loss rate in the patients with anorexia nervosa had no effect on P-wave dispersion. Due to the fact that anorexia nervosa has a high mortality rate we believe that cardiac pathologies such as atrial fibrillation must also be considered in the medical evaluation.
authors.affiliation: a Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine , Hacettepe University, Ankara , Turkey.
authors.forename: İlker
authors.initials: İ
authors.lastname: Ertuğrul
authors.affiliation: b Division of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine , Hacettepe University , Ankara , Turkey.
authors.forename: Sinem
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akgül
authors.affiliation: b Division of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine , Hacettepe University , Ankara , Turkey.
authors.forename: Orhan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Derman
authors.affiliation: a Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine , Hacettepe University, Ankara , Turkey.
authors.forename: Tevfik
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Karagöz
authors.affiliation: b Division of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine , Hacettepe University , Ankara , Turkey.
authors.forename: Nuray
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kanbur
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000150:complications*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012306:Risk