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Assessment of atrial conduction time by tissue Doppler echocardiography and P-wave dispersion in smokers

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Abstract

Introduction

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between cigarette smoking and atrial rhythm disorders with the use of noninvasive methods.

Methods

The study population consisted of 50 healthy volunteer smokers and 40 healthy volunteer non-smokers who had normal echocardiographic parameters and similar sex and age profiles. P-wave dispersion (PWD) was calculated from the 12-lead surface ECG. Left ventricle (LV) end-systolic and end-diastolic diameters, LV ejection fraction, and interatrial and intraatrial electromechanical delay were measured by tissue Doppler imaging and conventional echocardiography.

Results

Isovolumetric relaxation time and deceleration time were significantly higher (91.5 ± 11 vs. 82.35 ± 8.6, p < 0.0001; 215.7 ± 37.1 vs. 175.3 ± 17.7, p < 0.0001, respectively), and HDL cholesterol was significantly lower in smokers (39.34 ± 7.5 vs.44.3 ± 8.07, p = 0.003). There were no significant differences between the groups with respect to Sm and Em values, Am value, and E/A and E/Em ratios. However, the Em/Am ratio was significantly lower in smokers (1.28 ± 0.21 vs. 1.44 ± 0.33, p < 0.006). Inter- and intraatrial electromechanical delay were significantly higher in smokers when compared with non-smokers (51.11 ± 1.54 vs. 27.30 ± 3.36, p < 0.0001, and 30.63 ± 3.2 vs. 12.24 ± 3.26, p < 0.0001, respectively). The amount of smoking was strongly correlated with interatrial electromechanical delay (r = 0.567, p < 0.0001), and a significant correlation was detected between PWD and interatrial electromechanical delay (r = 0.653, p = 0.001).

Conclusion

We have demonstrated the relationship between inter- and intraatrial electromechanical delay and PWD. These parameters may be useful predictive markers for the development of AF in the asymptomatic period before cardiac rhythm disturbances occur. This finding may indicate that smokers have an increased risk of developing atrial rhythm disturbances.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cardiology Department, Adıyaman University, Adiyaman, Turkey

    Erdal Akturk

  2. Cardiology Department, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey

    Jülide Yağmur, Nusret Açıkgöz, Necip Ermiş, Mehmet Cansel, Yasin Karakuş, Hakan Taşolar, Ferhat Eyupkoca & Hasan Pekdemir

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  1. Erdal Akturk
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  2. Jülide Yağmur
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Correspondence to Erdal Akturk.

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Akturk, E., Yağmur, J., Açıkgöz, N. et al. Assessment of atrial conduction time by tissue Doppler echocardiography and P-wave dispersion in smokers. J Interv Card Electrophysiol 34, 247–253 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10840-011-9658-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10840-011-9658-x

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