Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How P wave duration helps detect left atrial enlargement in dogs
By Savarino, P et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2012·Department of Animal Pathology, Italy·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Diagnostic performance of P wave duration in the identification of left atrial enlargement in dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study looked at how well measuring the duration of P waves on an electrocardiogram (ECG) could help identify left atrial enlargement in dogs, a condition that can indicate heart problems. The researchers analyzed ECGs from 156 dogs, comparing the P wave duration to echocardiographic results. They found that while a longer P wave duration could suggest left atrial enlargement, the accuracy was limited, with the best results showing only 100% sensitivity at a very short duration but low specificity. This means that while the test can indicate a problem, it may not be reliable enough for a definitive diagnosis.
People also search for: dog heart problems symptoms · left atrial enlargement in dogs · dog ECG interpretation · P wave duration in dogs
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To determine sensitivity and specificity of P wave duration in the identification of left atrial enlargement in dogs. METHODS: Electrocardiograms from normal dogs and dogs with various cardiovascular diseases were evaluated. Inclusion criteria were the availability of an electrocardiogram showing a stable isoelectric line, easily recognizable P waves and good quality two-dimensional echocardiographic estimate of left atrial dimensions using the left atrial to aortic root ratio. Using a metal caliper system, P wave duration was measured to the nearest 10 milliseconds for six consecutive heart beats; data were then averaged for each dog. The accuracy of P wave duration in predicting left atrial enlargement was determined using a receiver operating characteristic analysis. RESULTS: One hundred and fifty-six dogs were included in the study. Average P wave durations of 20, 30, 40 and 50 milliseconds yielded sensitivities of 100, 85, 68 and 40% and specificities of 0, 16, 64 and 93%, respectively, for the diagnosis of Left Atrial Enlargement by echocardiography. The estimated area under curve of the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0·70 (95% confidence interval: 0·60 to 0·80). CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The diagnostic performance of P wave duration for identification of left atrial enlargement in dogs presents considerable limitations.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22512699/