Impact of continuous positive airway pressure therapy on atrial electromechanical delay in obesity-hypoventilation syndrome patients

Background: The cardiac involvement is often present in Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome (OHS)as pulmonary hypertension or left ventricular hypertrophy. Aim of our study was to evaluate the electrocardiographic P wave duration(P max)and dispersion(PD)and echocardiographic(atrial electromechanical delay)non invasive indicators of atrial conduction heterogeneity in OHS patients and the impact of CPAP on atrial conduction time. Methods: 50 patients affected by OHS and 30 sex and age matched subjects were enrolled. All OHS patients underwent ECG,2D-color doppler transthoracic echocardiogram and polysomnography.Same measurements were performed 1 and 6 months after the initiation of the therapy. Results: OHS groups showedincreased inter-atrial(35.2 ± 8 vs 20.1±2.7 msP Conclusion: This study shows an increased atrial electromechanic delays and atrial conduction heterogeneity in OHS patients and suggests that CPAP therapy provides more homogenous conduction through atrial in OHS patients,reducing the atrial fibrillation risk.