Assessment of Atrial Fibrillation and Ventricular Arrhythmia Risk after Bariatric Surgery by P Wave/QT Interval Dispersion

Abstract

The association of obesity with atrial fibrillation (AF) and with ventricular arrhythmias is well documented.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether weight reduction by a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy has any effect on P wave dispersion (PWD), a predictor of AF, and corrected QT interval dispersion (CQTD), a marker of ventricular arrhythmias, in obese individuals.

In a prospective study, a total of 114 patients (79 females, 35 males) who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy were examined. The patients were followed 1 year. PWD and CQTD values before and 3rd, 6th, and 12th months after the surgery were calculated and compared.

There was a statistically significant decline in body mass index (BMI), PWD, and CQTD values among baseline, 3rd, 6th, and 12th months (p < 0.001 for all comparisons). Correlation analysis showed a statistically significant correlation between Delta PWD and Delta BMI (r = 0.719, p < 0.001), Delta PWD and Delta left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) (r = 0.291, p = 0.002), Delta PWD and Delta left atrial diameter (LAD) (r = 0.65, p < 0.001), Delta CQTD and Delta BMI (r = 0.266, p = 0.004), Delta CQTD and Delta LVEDD (r = 0.35, p < 0.001), Delta CQTD and Delta LAD (r = 0.289, p = 0.002). In multiple linear regression analysis, there was a statistically significant relationship between Delta PWD and Delta BMI (beta = 0.713, p < 0.001), Delta PWD and Delta LVEDD (beta = 0.174, p = 0.016), Delta PWD and Delta LAD (beta = 0.619, p < 0.001), Delta CQTD and Delta BMI (beta = 0.247, p = 0.011), Delta CQTD and Delta LVEDD (beta = 0.304, p < 0.001), Delta CQTD and Delta LAD (beta = 0.235, p = 0.009).

PWD and CQTD values of patients were shown to be attenuated after bariatric surgery. These results indirectly offer that there may be a reduction in risk of AF, ventricular arrhythmia, and sudden cardiac death after obesity surgery.