Utility of P-Wave Dispersion in the Prediction of Atrial Fibrillation

Prevention is important in the case of the most common sustained arrhythmia-atrial fibrillation, with the intention of obtaining both medical and economic benefits. Electrocardiographic parameters have been tested as predictors of atrial fibrillation in different settings, and indices of P-wave have been assiduously studied.Increased P-wave dispersion has been described in different illnesses and correlated with several echocardiographic and clinical parameters. Several studies have demonstrated the relationship between P-wave dispersion with the first episode or paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, as well as with the recurrence of atrial fibrillation after conversion to sinus rhythm. Despite of some critics, the current evidencesentitleus to continue studying P-wave dispersion and use it for identifying patients with risk for atrial fibrillation.