1Assistant Professor, Dept. of Physiology, Gadag Institute of Medical Sciences, Gadag, Karnataka
2Professor, Dept. of Physiology, S. Nijalingappa Medical College, Bagalkot, Karnataka
3Associate Professor, Dept. of Biochemistry, Mallaready Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, Telangana
Considerable variations in the P wave morphology are noted in association with obesity. Standard 12-lead ECG is still considered to be the initial screening test for non-invasive detection of cardiovascular changes.
To study the duration of P wave (milliseconds), P wave amplitude (mV) and dispersion of P wave (milliseconds) in obese subjects and to compare them with apparently healthy normal subjects.
Asymptomatic obese 150 young adults in the age group of 18–39 years with BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2, sex and age matched 150 healthy individuals with BMI less than or equal to 22 kg/m2 were considered as controls from the general population. A standard 12-lead ECG after 10 minutes of rest was taken and duration of P wave and amplitude was noted. Minimum (min) and maximum (max) duration of P wave and dispersion of P wave (the difference between the max and min P wave duration) were measured by transferring the 12-lead ECG to personal computer via scanner. It was magnified 400 times by Adobe Photoshop software to pick up the smallest changes. Data was analyzed in terms of mean ± SD. Unpaired ‘t’ test was used to study the changes in P wave.
P wave duration was statistically extremely significant (104.3 ± 8.2 vs 95.7 ± 79, P value < 0.0001) and dispersion of P wave was statistically extremely significant (21.1 ± 3.4 vs 14.6 ± 3.9, P value < 0.0001) in obese subjects. P wave amplitude was statistically not significant.
Duration and dispersion of P wave was longer in asymptomatic obese individuals, increasing the risk of atrial flutter and fibrillation. Hence, a regular check on this parameter is needed to reduce its manifestation at a future date.
Anthropometry, Electrocardiogram, Body Mass Index, P Wave Dispersion, Cardio-Vascular Diseases
