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Age-related changes in P wave morphology in healthy subjects.

Havmöller, Rasmus LU ; Carlson, Jonas LU orcid ; Holmqvist, Fredrik LU ; Herreros, Alberto ; Meurling, Carl LU ; Olsson, Bertil LU and Platonov, Pyotr LU (2007) In BMC Cardiovascular Disorders 7(22).
Abstract
Background



We have previously documented significant differences in orthogonal P wave morphology between patients with and without paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). However, there exists little data concerning normal P wave morphology. This study was aimed at exploring orthogonal P wave morphology and its variations in healthy subjects.

Methods



120 healthy volunteers were included, evenly distributed in decades from 20–80 years of age; 60 men (age 50+/-17) and 60 women (50+/-16). Six-minute long 12-lead ECG registrations were acquired and transformed into orthogonal leads. Using a previously described P wave triggered P wave signal averaging method we were able to compare similarities and... (More)
Background



We have previously documented significant differences in orthogonal P wave morphology between patients with and without paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). However, there exists little data concerning normal P wave morphology. This study was aimed at exploring orthogonal P wave morphology and its variations in healthy subjects.

Methods



120 healthy volunteers were included, evenly distributed in decades from 20–80 years of age; 60 men (age 50+/-17) and 60 women (50+/-16). Six-minute long 12-lead ECG registrations were acquired and transformed into orthogonal leads. Using a previously described P wave triggered P wave signal averaging method we were able to compare similarities and differences in P wave morphologies.

Results



Orthogonal P wave morphology in healthy individuals was predominately positive in Leads X and Y. In Lead Z, one third had negative morphology and two-thirds a biphasic one with a transition from negative to positive. The latter P wave morphology type was significantly more common after the age of 50 (P < 0.01). P wave duration (PWD) increased with age being slightly longer in subjects older than 50 (121+/-13 ms vs. 128+/-12 ms, P < 0.005). Minimal intraindividual variation of P wave morphology was observed.

Conclusion



Changes of signal averaged orthogonal P wave morphology (biphasic signal in Lead Z), earlier reported in PAF patients, are common in healthy subjects and appear predominantly after the age of 50. Subtle age-related prolongation of PWD is unlikely to be sufficient as a sole explanation of this finding that is thought to represent interatrial conduction disturbances. To serve as future reference, P wave morphology parameters of the healthy subjects are provided. (Less)
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author
; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
BMC Cardiovascular Disorders
volume
7
issue
22
publisher
BioMed Central (BMC)
external identifiers
  • scopus:34548245472
ISSN
1471-2261
DOI
10.1186/1471-2261-7-22
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
7d5e6749-d007-4414-9908-59cd9b7760e5 (old id 607206)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 15:45:35
date last changed
2022-01-28 06:54:57
@article{7d5e6749-d007-4414-9908-59cd9b7760e5,
  abstract     = {{Background<br/><br>
<br/><br>
We have previously documented significant differences in orthogonal P wave morphology between patients with and without paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). However, there exists little data concerning normal P wave morphology. This study was aimed at exploring orthogonal P wave morphology and its variations in healthy subjects.<br/><br>
Methods<br/><br>
<br/><br>
120 healthy volunteers were included, evenly distributed in decades from 20–80 years of age; 60 men (age 50+/-17) and 60 women (50+/-16). Six-minute long 12-lead ECG registrations were acquired and transformed into orthogonal leads. Using a previously described P wave triggered P wave signal averaging method we were able to compare similarities and differences in P wave morphologies.<br/><br>
Results<br/><br>
<br/><br>
Orthogonal P wave morphology in healthy individuals was predominately positive in Leads X and Y. In Lead Z, one third had negative morphology and two-thirds a biphasic one with a transition from negative to positive. The latter P wave morphology type was significantly more common after the age of 50 (P &lt; 0.01). P wave duration (PWD) increased with age being slightly longer in subjects older than 50 (121+/-13 ms vs. 128+/-12 ms, P &lt; 0.005). Minimal intraindividual variation of P wave morphology was observed.<br/><br>
Conclusion<br/><br>
<br/><br>
Changes of signal averaged orthogonal P wave morphology (biphasic signal in Lead Z), earlier reported in PAF patients, are common in healthy subjects and appear predominantly after the age of 50. Subtle age-related prolongation of PWD is unlikely to be sufficient as a sole explanation of this finding that is thought to represent interatrial conduction disturbances. To serve as future reference, P wave morphology parameters of the healthy subjects are provided.}},
  author       = {{Havmöller, Rasmus and Carlson, Jonas and Holmqvist, Fredrik and Herreros, Alberto and Meurling, Carl and Olsson, Bertil and Platonov, Pyotr}},
  issn         = {{1471-2261}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{22}},
  publisher    = {{BioMed Central (BMC)}},
  series       = {{BMC Cardiovascular Disorders}},
  title        = {{Age-related changes in P wave morphology in healthy subjects.}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/4464512/626113.pdf}},
  doi          = {{10.1186/1471-2261-7-22}},
  volume       = {{7}},
  year         = {{2007}},
}