Evaluation of atrial conduction features with tissue doppler imaging in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background The electrical activity of atria can be demonstrated by P waves on surface electrocardiogram (ECG). Atrial electromechanical delay (AEMD) measured with tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) echocardiography can be a useful non-invasive method for evaluating atrial conduction features. We investigated whether AEMD is prolonged in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Patients and methods Study consisted of 41 (15 female, 26 male, mean age 62 + 12 years) patients with COPD and 41 healthy subjects. Pulmonary function tests,12 lead surface ECG and echocardiographic examination were performed and recorded. P wave changes on surface ECG, minimum ( P min ) and maximum ( P max ) duration of P wave and its difference as P wave dispersion ( P wd ) were measured and recorded. Atrial electromechanic delay (AEMD) was calculated from colored-TDI recordings. Results Pulmonary functions were significantly lower in COPD group than the control group as expected. Right atrial areas and pulmonary arterial systolic pressures (PAP) were significantly higher in COPD group than the controls (right atrial area: 11.9 ± 3.4 cm 2 and 8.2 ± 2.2 cm 2 , p