Effect of overweight on P-wave and QT dispersions in childhood

OBJECTIVES
The effects of obesity on atrial conduction and ventricular repolarization have been studied in detail, but these parameters have not been well documented in overweight children. The aim of our study was to investigate the effects of overweight on atrial conduction and ventricular repolarization in children by using P-wave dispersion (Pw-d) and QT dispersion (QT-d) analyses.

STUDY DESIGN
Sixty-seven overweight children and 70 children within normal limits were included in this cross-sectional prospective controlled study. All subjects underwent electrocardiographic and anthropometric evaluation, and blood samples were obtained. Pw-d and QT-d were investigated between two groups.

RESULTS
Homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance levels were higher in the overweight group (2.9±1.2 vs. 1.1±0.8, p=0.001). No statistically significant differences were found in Pw-d and QT-d when the groups were compared. The following findings were recorded for the overweight and control groups, respectively: mean RR interval (635±42 msec vs. 645±45 msec, p=0.867), Pw-d [30 (10- 55) msec vs. 27.5 (15-50) msec, p=0.441] and QT-d (30 (15-55) msec vs. 22.5 (10-60) msec, p=0.476). In addition, Pw-d and QT-d were not correlated with the levels of insulin or body mass index.

CONCLUSION
There was no significant difference in atrial conduction or ventricular repolarization features between overweight children and normal-weight children.