Relation of atrial electromechanical delay to P‐wave dispersion on surface ECG using vector velocity imaging in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

OBJECTIVES: Heterogeneity of structural and electrophysiologic properties of atrial myocardium is common characteristic in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). We assessed the dispersion of atrial refractoriness on surface ECG using P‐wave dispersion (PWD) and its relation to atrial electromechanical functions using vector velocity imaging (VVI) in HCM population. METHODS: Seventy‐nine HCM patients (mean age: 43.7 ± 13 years, 67% male) were compared with 25 healthy individuals as control. P‐wave durations, P(max) and P(min), P‐wave dispersion (PWD), and P terminal force (PTF) were measured from 12‐lead ECG. LA segmental delay (TTP‐d) and dispersion (TTP‐SD) of electromechanical activation were derived from atrial strain rate curves. RESULTS: HCM patients had longer PR interval, PW duration, higher PWD, PTF, QT(c) compared to control (p < .001). HCM patients were classified according to presence of PWD into two groups, group I with PWD > 46 ms (n = 25) and group II PWD ≤ 46 ms (n = 54). Group I showed higher prevalence of female gender, higher PTF, QTc interval, left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction, p < .01, LVOT gradient (p < .001), LV mass index (p < .01), E/E' (p < .01), and severe mitral regurgitation (p < .001). Moreover, PWD was associated with increased atrial electromechanical delay (TTP‐d) and LA mechanical dyssynchrony (TTP‐SD), p < .001. LA segmental delay and dispersion of electromechanical activation were distinctly higher among HCM patient. CONCLUSION: PWD is simple ECG criterion, and it is associated with more severe HCM phenotype and LA electromechanical delay while PTF is linked only to atrial remodeling.