Analysis of the Atrial T Wave in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

¹ Assistant Professor of Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, D.C.
² George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, D.C.
³ Resident in Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington D.C.
⁴ Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington D.C.

The atrial T wave (Ta) was studied by computer analysis in 171 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). They were divided into three groups according to Ta amplitude. Group 1 included 98 cases (57.6 percent) with Ta of .05 mv or less, group 2, 38 cases (22.3 percent) with Ta between .06 mv and .09 mv, and group 3, 35 cases (20.5 percent) with Ta of .10 mv or more. The mean Ta for the total group was .05 mv (range .00 mv to .18 mv). Distribution of the three groups according to heart rate, PR interval, P wave amplitude, duration, axis, MVV L/min., VC ml and FEV₁ ml was obtained. Ta amplitude correlated well with heart rate, P wave amplitude and axis. As mean P wave axis shifted rightward, Ta amplitude increased. No correlation was found between the Ta and PR interval or P wave duration. The Ta amplitude correlated well with the pulmonary functions and patients with the greatest reduction in such functions exhibited the highest Ta values. The patients were divided into quartiles on the basis of MVV. The number of patients with Ta of .10 mv or more in quartile 4 (the most severe) was almost double than in quartiles 2 and 3, and about seven times that of quartile 1. Conclusion is that Ta amplitude of .10 mv or more correlated well with COPD and .06 mv or more is highly suggestive.