Atrial conduction delay and its association with left atrial dimension, left atrial pressure and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in patients at risk of atrial fibrillation

BACKGROUND: Atrial conduction delay and its association with left atrial dimension, left atrial pressure and left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction in patients at risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) may be assessed by high-resolution electrocardiography of P wave. OBJECTIVES: To determine how left atrial size, left atrial pressure and LV diastolic dysfunction, measured noninvasively by transthoracic echocardiography, influence atrial conduction time. METHODS: Signal-averaged electrocardiography of P wave and echocardiogram were performed on 70 patients (average age of 63+/-10 years; 37 male and 33 female), divided into three groups: group A, patients with paroxysmal AF (n=29); group B, patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and arterial hypertension, but without AF (n=23); and group C, healthy control patients (n=18). Standard statistical methods were used. RESULTS: Filtered P wave duration, measured by signal-averaged electrocardiography, was significantly prolonged in group A and group B compared with control group C (138+/-12 ms and 125+/-9 ms versus 117+/-8 ms; P