P133 ALTERED P-WAVE DISPERSION IN NEWLY DIAGNOSED YOUNG HYPERTENSIVES

Background and objective: P wave dispersion (Pd) is a useful electrocardiographic marker for predicting the onset of atrial fibrillation. It has been little studied in recent hypertension. The aim was to determine the behavior of maximum P wave duration (Pmax) and Pd in young hypertensive patients with recent onset and its relationship with other variables. Methods: A cross-sectional, prospective, comparative study was performed in 60 young men (30 hypertensive and 30 non-hypertensive). P wave measurements were obtained with 12-lead electrocardiogram. Statistical analysis included applications of simple linear correlation, sample means were compared by Student's t-test. Results: There were no significant differences in the baseline characteristics of both groups. Pmax (78.67 ± 5.71 ms) and Pd (42.33 ± 6.26ms) were found to be significantly prolonged (p<0.001) in the hypertensive group compared to normotensive subjects (Pmax 61.00 ± 7.69 ms; Pd 25.00 ± 8.61 ms). Pd correlated significantly (r = 0.716; p<0.001) with systolic and diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.696; p<0.001). Conclusions: Pmax and Pd are found to be increased in young patients with recent-onset hypertension, and these values increase in direct proportion to blood pressure figures.