The effect of altitude on P-wave and QT duration and dispersion

GÜNTEKİN Ü., Gunes Y., Tuncer M., Gumrukcuoglu H. A., Kaya Y.

PACE-PACING AND CLINICAL ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, cilt.31, sa.7, ss.889-892, 2008 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 31 Sayı: 7
  • Basım Tarihi: 2008
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1111/j.1540-8159.2008.01104.x
  • Dergi Adı: PACE-PACING AND CLINICAL ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.889-892
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: electrocardiogram, high altitude, P-wave and QT duration and dispersion, VECTORCARDIOGRAPHIC OBSERVATIONS, ELECTRICAL-ACTIVITY, HEALTHY-MEN, ALL-CAUSE, HEART, PREDICTION, MORTALITY, INTERVAL, INFANTS, BORN
  • Akdeniz Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Background: Short-term and long-term exposure to high altitude has been reported to change the surface electrocardiogram. We aimed to compare P-wave and QT parameters between healthy people living at high altitude and sea level.

Background: Short-term and long-term exposure to high altitude has been reported to change the surface electrocardiogram. We aimed to compare P-wave and QT parameters between healthy people living at high altitude and sea level. 

Methods: Twelve-lead electrocardiographies of 38 healthy people living at sea level (Antalya,Turkey) and 38 healthy people living at high altitude (Van, Turkey; 1,700-1,800 m) were obtained. Minimum and maximum P-wave durations, P-wave dispersion, minimum and maximum corrected QT intervals, and corrected QT dispersion were calculated. 

Results: There was no significant difference between the two groups in respect to heart rate and QT variables. Mean Pminimum values were slightly but significantly lower in the high altitude group (P = 0.029). Mean Pmaximum values tended to be lower at high altitude but did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.085). However, there was no significant difference in respect to P-wave dispersion values. 

Conclusions: In a sample of men and women living at high altitude in Turkey, significant reduction of Pminimum and borderline reduction of Pmaximum duration, but no significant change of P-wave and QT dispersion, were observed.