CorSalud 2012 Oct-Dec;4(4)

This article is only available in Spanish

Elibet Chávez González, MD, MSc^1*; Emilio González Rodríguez, PhD²; María del Carmen Llanes Camacho, MD, MSc^3**; Merlin Garí Llanes, MD, MSc^4**; Julieta García Sáez, MD^5**, Elizabet Fernández Martínez, MD^5**, Yosvany García Nóbrega, MD^6** y Raimundo Carmona Puerta^7*
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1. Master of Science. First Degree Specialist in Cardiology. Assistant Professor.

2. Doctor of Technical Sciences. Full Professor. Marta Abreu Central University of Las Villas. Villa Clara, Cuba.

3. Master of Science. First Degree Specialist in Cardiology. Consultant Professor.

4. Master of Science. First Degree Specialist in Cardiology. Instructor Professor.

5. First Degree Specialist in Endocrinology.

6. Master of Science. First Degree Specialist in Cardiology.

7. Second Degree Specialist in Physiology. Assistant Professor.

* Arrhythmology and Pacing Service. Cardiocentro Ernesto Che Guevara. Villa Clara, Cuba.
** José Luis Miranda Pediatric Hospital. Villa Clara, Cuba.

Correspondence: E Chávez González. Calle 1a entre Unión y Río - 18. Reparto Ramón Ruiz del Sol. Santa Clara, Villa Clara, Cuba.
Telephone: (53) 42 279076. Email address: elibet@capiro.vcl.sld.cu

Abstract

Introduction and Objective: Atrial fibrillation is the paradigm of atrial electrical heterogeneity. The prolongation of intra and interatrial conduction and inhomogeneous propagation of electrical impulses are electrophysiological characteristics in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Obesity is a potential risk factor for atrial fibrillation. There are some reports about higher values of P wave dispersion in obese women. The aim was to determine the relationship between P wave dispersion and body weight in normotensive and hypertensive children between 8 and 11 years old. Method: 358 children from a total of 543 were studied. Those whose parents did not want them to participate in the study and those who had known congenital diseases were excluded. A 12-lead surface ECG and 4 blood pressure measurements were conducted. Maximum and minimum P values were measured and P wave dispersion in the electrocardiogram was calculated. Other variables such as body weight were also obtained. Results: The difference between mean values for P-wave dispersion between normotensive and hypertensive patients was 31.85 ms vs 39.74 ms, respectively, p <0.001. There was an increased dispersion of P wave with weight gain, r = 0.18 p = 0.05. Conclusions: In hypertensive patients, P-wave dispersion and weight show a significant correlation since childhood. There are significant differences between P wave dispersion values of the electrocardiogram between normotensive and hypertensive populations since childhood.
Key words: P wave, Hypertension, Body weight, Obesity