Open AccessAutomatic P Wave Analysis Over 24 Hours in Patients with Paroxysmal or Persistent Atrial Fibrillation
Author(s) -
Bitzen Alexander,
Sternickel Karsten,
Lewalter Thorsten,
Schwab Jörg Otto,
Yang Alexander,
Schrickel Jan Wilko,
Linhart Markus,
Wolpert Christian,
Jung Werner,
David Peter,
Lüderitz Berndt,
Nickenig Georg,
Lickfett Lars
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
annals of noninvasive electrocardiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.494
H-Index - 48
eISSN - 1542-474X
pISSN - 1082-720X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1542-474x.2007.00180.x
Subject(s) - medicine , atrial fibrillation , cardiology , sinus rhythm , qrs complex , paroxysmal atrial fibrillation , analysis of variance , p wave , population , amplitude , physics , environmental health , quantum mechanics
Background: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) often exhibit abnormalities of P wave morphology during sinus rhythm. We examined a novel method for automatic P wave analysis in the 24‐hour‐Holter‐ECG of 60 patients with paroxysmal or persistent AF and 12 healthy subjects. Methods: Recorded ECG signals were transferred to the analysis program where 5–10 P and R waves were manually marked. A wavelet transform performed a time‐frequency decomposition to train neural networks. Afterwards, the detected P waves were described using a Gauss function optimized to fit the individual morphology and providing amplitude and duration at half P wave height. Results: >96% of P waves were detected, 47.4 ± 20.7% successfully analyzed afterwards. In the patient population, the mean amplitude was 0.073 ± 0.028 mV (mean variance 0.020 ± 0.008 mV 2 ), the mean duration at half height 23.5 ± 2.7 ms (mean variance 4.2 ± 1.6 ms 2 ). In the control group, the mean amplitude (0.105 ± 0.020 ms) was significantly higher (P < 0.0005), the mean variance of duration at half height (2.9 ± 0.6 ms 2 ) significantly lower (P < 0.0085). Conclusions: This method shows promise for identification of triggering factors of AF.