P-wave Dispersion (PWD) Calculator

P-wave Dispersion (PWD): Explanation and Clinical Context P-wave Dispersion is defined as the difference between the maximum and minimum P-wave durations measured on a standard 12-lead ECG. It reflects the heterogeneity of atrial conduction and has been widely studied as a predictor of atrial fibrillation (AF) in both structural heart disease and healthy populations. Increased PWD indicates inhomogeneous and discontinuous propagation of sinus impulses, predisposing patients to atrial arrhythmias.

PWD is measured in milliseconds (ms) and is calculated as Pmax - Pmin. Normal PWD in healthy adults is typically less than 40 ms. Clinical utility includes risk stratification for AF, monitoring atrial remodeling, and assessing the efficacy of interventions aimed at reducing atrial arrhythmogenic substrate.