Association between C-reactive protein, carotid intima-media thickness and P-wave dispersion in obese premenopausal women: an observational study

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate P-wave dispersion (PWD) in obese women, and to investigate the relationship between P-wave measurements, high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and echocardiographic findings. Methods: Forty-four patients with obese premenopausal women and 30 females with normal weight were enrolled this cross sectional, observational study. Results of anthropometric measurements, laboratory assays, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic findings were recorded for each participant. Student t, Mann-Whitney U and Pearson Chi-square tests, and Spearman correlation analysis were used for statistical analysis. Multiple regression analysis was used to identify independent factors associated with PWD development. Results: The obese group had significantly higher values for PWD (41.8±11.8 ms vs. 28.5±9.3 ms; p 0.001) as well as for P max (105.2±14.3 ms vs. 89.0±13.3 ms; p 0.001). Correlation analyses revealed the presence of a positive correlation between PWD and each of insulin, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, hsCRP, CIMT, left atrial diameter (LAD), waist circumference, waist to hip ratio and body mass index in obese participants. The only significant association that was observed on multiple linear regression analysis, after adjustments for confounding risk factors, was between LAD and PWD (β=4.290, 95% CI: 1.870-9.720, p=0.032). Conclusion: We found that increased PWD values in obese patients are correlated positively with hsCRP, CIMT and abdominal obesity. However, independent and significant association was found only between LAD and PWD.