Characteristics of PR interval as predictor for atrial fibrillation: association with biomarkers and outcomes

Abstract

The PR interval may be considered as a simple and easily obtainable predictor for adverse events, including atrial fibrillation (AF), pacemaker implantation, and mortality. Interestingly, both high and low extremes of the PR duration are associated with AF risk. However, the results regarding PR prolongation as a risk factor for AF are inconsistent. Some studies have analyzed the impact of P duration (as a part of the PR interval) and demonstrated that the P-duration contributes to the length of PR interval and adverse outcomes. The PR prolongation could be considered as a marker for cardiovascular degenerative aging caused by myocardial fibrosis and vascular inflammation. Furthermore, due to PR prolongation chronically raised intra-atrial pressure and consequential neuro-hormonal activation predispose systemic vascular endothelial dysfunction and explain the associations with adverse vascular events. In this review, we discuss the association between biomarkers with PR interval in AF.

Septal total atrial conduction time for prediction of atrial fibrillation in embolic stroke of unknown source: a pilot study

“…However, in our study we defined a LAVI/a` cut-off value of > 3.67 (sensitivity 78.1%; specificity 66.2%) as independent predictor of AF (AUC = 0.798). P-wave duration and PR-interval obtained from resting 12-lead ECG have shown to be associated with myocardial structural remodeling and AF [26][27][28]. P-wave duration and PR-interval were not independently associated with AF in the present study.…”

How Are Cardiac Functions Altered in Pediatric Patients Receiving Oral Iron Supplementation Due to Anemia?

“…P wave dispersion has been addressed as a marker for atrial remodeling and predictor for atrial fibrillation (Okutucu et al, 2016;Pérez-Riera et al, 2016). Increased p wave dispersion designates the delay in intra-atrial and inter-atrial conduction time which can be attributed to the lack of a well-coordinated conduction system within the atrial muscles (Okutucu et al, 2016;Pérez-Riera et al, 2016;Schumacher et al, 2017). T-peak to T-end interval is depicted as an index for transmural dispersion of ventricular repolarization.…”

Association between routine biomarkers and atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing implantation of a dual‐chamber pacemaker

“…Abnormal atrioventricular conduction might be associated with AF and other adverse outcomes. In fact, first‐degree atrioventricular block, namely prolonged PR interval, has been linked to AF, atrial fibrosis, as well as to increased pro‐inflammatory and pro‐fibrotic biomarkers 24 . However, it has been argued that only when there is an increased P wave, which reflects more accurately atrial remodeling, the prolonged PR interval is associated with AF 25 .…”