P-Wave Dispersion in Acute Pancreatitis

Objective: Cardiac complications and electrocardiographic anomalies are frequently seen in acute pancreatitis (AP). Also, an increased P-wave dispersion (PWD) is accepted as a predictor of atrial fibrillation. It was aimed to investigate the P-wave dispersion change in acute pancreatitis and to predict the development of atrial fibrillation.

Methods: Patients diagnosed with acute pancreatitis, treated, and followed up between July 2018 and July 2019 were prospectively evaluated. The diagnosis of acute pancreatitis was based on physical examination and laboratory and imaging methods. The study included patients aged 18-60 who agreed to participate, were diagnosed, treated, and followed up in our hospital, and achieved complete recovery according to the second-month follow-up. The maximum and minimum P-wave durations were measured in milliseconds (ms) using a 12-lead electrocardiography device at the time of the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis and the second month after treatment. The difference between the maximum and minimum values was calculated as PWD. The PWD values were compared between the 2 evaluation times.

Results: The mean age of the patients was 43.2 ± 12.5 (range, 19-60) years. The follow-up period was 2 months. Twenty-six (52%) patients were male and 24 (48%) were female. The maximum P-wave duration and PWD were determined as 98.7 ± 11.4 (60-120) ms and 41.5 ± 9.1 (30-60) ms, respectively, during the acute pancreatitis attack, and 94.1 ± 11.5 (60-110) ms and 37.5 ± 9.3 (20-60) ms, respectively, during the second-month follow-up. The maximum P-wave duration and PWD values were significantly higher dur ing the acute pancreatitis attack compared to those measured after recovery (P = .020 and P = .003, respectively).

Conclusion: In patients with acute pancreatitis, PWD was significantly prolonged compared to post-treatment. We consider that patients with acute pancreatitis have a higher probability of atrial arrhythmia due to prolonged PWD; therefore, appropriate follow up should be undertaken and preventive measures should be applied.

Cite this article as: Büyükkuşcu A, Zeynelova G, Oflaz U, Yardımcı Ö, Borlu F. P-wave dispersion in acute pancreatitis. Arch Basic Clin Res. 2024;6(2):96-100.