Atrial electromechanical coupling intervals in pregnant subjects

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate atrial conduction abnormalities obtained by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and electrocardiogram analysis in pregnant subjects. Methods: A total of 30 pregnant subjects (28 +/- 4 years) and 30 controls (28 +/- 3 years) were included. Systolic and diastolic left ventricular (LV) function was measured using conventional echocardiography and TDI. Inter-atrial, intra-atrial and intra-left atrial electromechanical coupling (PA) intervals were measured with TDI. P-wave dispersion (PD) was calculated from a 12-lead electrocardiogram. Results: Atrial electromechanical coupling at the septal and left lateral mitral annulus (PA septal, PA lateral) was significantly prolonged in pregnant subjects (62.1 +/- 2.7 vs 55.3 +/- 3.2 ms, p < 0.001; 45.7 +/- 2.5 vs 43.1 +/- 2.7 ms, p < 0.001, respectively). Inter-atrial (PA lateral - PA tricuspid), intra-atrial (PA septum - PA tricuspid) and intra-left atrial (PA lateral - PA septum) electromechanical coupling intervals, maximum P-wave (P-max) duration and PD were significantly longer in the pregnant subjects (26.4 +/- 4.0 vs 20.2 +/- 3.6 ms, p < 0.001; 10.0 +/- 2.0 vs 8.0 +/- 2.6 ms, p = 0.002; 16.4 +/- 3.3 vs 12.2 +/- 3.0 ms, p < 0.001; 103.1 +/- 5.4 vs 96.8 +/- 7.4 ms, p < 0.001; 50.7 +/- 6.8 vs 41.6 +/- 5.5 ms, p < 0.001, respectively). We found a significant positive correlation between inter-atrial and intra-left atrial electromechanical coupling intervals and P-max (r = 0.282, p = 0.029, r = 0.378, p = 0.003, respectively). Conclusion: This study showed that atrial electromechanical coupling intervals and PD, which are predictors of AF, were longer in pregnant subjects and this may cause an increased risk of AF in pregnancy.