Objective: It is well established that individuals with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHP) have higher rates of cardiac death and arrhythmias. In cardiology practice, atrial fibrillation (AF) is a prevalent arrhythmia that is addressed due to the rising prevalence of age and concomitant cardiac disease. The difference between the maximum and minimum P wave lengths in surface ECG derivations is called P wave dispersion (PWD). Various studies have shown that P wave dispersion (PWD) is a predictor of AF development. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the risk of AF by detecting PWD in patients with PHP.

Materials and Methods: As a control group, there were 21 healthy people and 26 PHP patients in the study. The groups were contrasted with respect to their ECG, echocardiography, laboratory, and demographic results. The difference between the highest and minimum P-wave durations in any lead is known as PWD

Results: Regarding the laboratory results and demographics, there was no difference found between the patient group and the control group. Total calcium, albumin-corrected calcium, phosphorus and parathyroid hormone (PH) levels were significantly higher in PHP patients (p<0.05). The maximum duration of the P wave was significantly longer in patients with PHP compared to healthy participants (108.3±9 vs. 97.8±11, p<0.001). The minimum duration of the P wave was similar between both groups. The PDD duration of patients with PHP was significantly longer (51.16 months ± 6.72 months compared to 37.85 months ± 8.12 months, p<0.01).

Conclusion: We observed that PWD was longer in patients with PHP compared to controls, and our results suggest that patients with PHP are at higher risk for AF.