Age-related changes in P wave morphology in healthy subjects.
(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)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/607206
- author
- Havmöller, Rasmus
LU
; Carlson, Jonas
LU
; Holmqvist, Fredrik LU ; Herreros, Alberto ; Meurling, Carl LU ; Olsson, Bertil LU and Platonov, Pyotr LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2007
- 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 < 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.<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}}, }