Identifying early left atrial dysfunction in COPD patients using ECG morphology-voltage-P wave duration score

Background Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is associated with left atrial (LA) dyfunction, which may contribute to adverse cardiovascular outcomes. This study investigates the predictive value of lately identified morphology-voltage-P wave duration electrocardiography (MVP ECG) score for detecting early LA dysfunction in COPD patients. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 101 COPD patients were enrolled. All patients underwent speckle tracking echocardiography and were classified into two groups based on their LA functions. Results Our findings demonstrate significant variations in Peak Atrial Longitudinal Strain (PALS) values among COPD patients, with a mean PALS of 28.74 ± 1.81 % for the group with normal LA function and 18.44 ± 1.87 % for the group with abnormal LA function (p < 0.001). Despite similar LA diameters across groups, these variations indicate subclinical LA pathogenesis. ROC curve analysis indicated that an MVP ECG score greater than 2.5 predicted abnormal LA function with a sensitivity of 65 % and a specificity of 91 % (area under the curve [AUC]: 0.873; p < 0.001), suggesting its utility in identifying atrial damage and remodeling. Conclusions The MVP ECG score shows promise as a tool for early detection of atrial remodeling in COPD patients.