Are adolescents with premenstrual disorder at risk for cardiac arrhythmias?

Akbulut, Ozlem; Ertugrul, Ilker; Pehlivantürk‐Kızılkan, Melis; Oztürk, Musa; Sencelikel, Tugce; Derman, Orhan; Akgül, Sinem

Background: One of the most commonly experienced symptoms of premenstrual disorder (PMD) is anxiety, and there is a notable rise in sympathomimetic activity in this patient group. Studies have linked fluctuations in systemic autonomic tone to electrocardiography (ECG) changes. This study aims to investigate the relationship between anxiety, a common symptom of PMD, and alterations in QT dispersion (QTd) and P‐wave dispersion (Pd) in adolescent females. Methods: This cross‐sectional study included female adolescents aged 12–18 with regular menstruation for at least 3 months. Participants completed the premenstrual syndrome scale (PMSS) and were divided into two groups, PMD and control, according to the PMSS score. A standard 12‐lead body surface ECG was performed and QTd and Pd values were determined in each participant. Results: Of the 43 participants, 27 were categorized into the PMD group, with a mean age of 15.15 ± 1.43 years. Age at menarche and menstrual cycle patterns were comparable between the PMD and control groups. Statistical analysis revealed significantly higher Pmin (p = 0.010) and Pd values (p < 0.001) in the PMD group compared to controls. A positive correlation between PMSS scores and Pd (p = 0.049) was also observed. Conclusions: Changes in atrial conduction and ventricular repolarization due to the pathophysiology of PMD may increase the risk of developing atrial and ventricular tachyarrhythmias over time. Screening patients with PMD using an ECG may be useful in identifying potentially at‐risk adolescents.

TURKEY; RISK assessment; CROSS-sectional method; PREMENSTRUAL syndrome; ANXIETY; CHILDREN'S hospitals; ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHY; MENARCHE; VENTRICULAR arrhythmia; ATRIAL arrhythmias; MENSTRUAL cycle; MENSTRUATION; DISEASE risk factors; SYMPTOMS; ADOLESCENCE

Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology Research, 2024, Vol 50, Issue 10, p1971

1341-8076

Academic Journal

10.1111/jog.16084