David Spodick, M.D., professor of Medicine and Cardiology at the University of Massachusetts, comments on under appreciation of the electrocardiographic P wave in Internal Medicine World Report, making the following points:
- Analysis of the P wave is often neglected in discussions on electrocardiography.
- Most P wave abnormalities are defined by P wave duration, the upper limit of which is 100ms.
- P wave duration in excess of 100ms constitutes atrial conduction block, specifically intra-atrial or, more likely, inter-atrial block.
- Atrial conduction blocks indicate increased risk of atrial fibrillation and stroke, and may reflect left ventricular dysfunction.
Background:
Review by Spodick in Mayo Clinic Proceedings on this subject.
Previous notes from Dr. RW on this subject.
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