Background and Aim: Pulmonary pulse transit time (pPTT) is a new marker of pulmonary hypertension (PH), which shows the time needed for the pulse wave to propagate from the right ventricular outflow tract to the left atrium (LA), but the relationship between pPTT and diastolic-LA function is almost unknown. In this study, we investigated the relationship between pPTT and LA-diastolic functions without PH. Materials and Methods: One hundred and fifty-six patients were included in this prospectively designed study. Comprehensive echocardiographic evaluation was performed and pPTT was recorded as the time from the beginning of the R-wave on the electrocardiogram to the peak of the S-wave in the pulmonary veins. Results: We found a statistically significant correlation between LA total stroke volume, passive stroke volume, LA max area, LA volume (LAV) max and LA volume index (LAVi) max, and pPTT (r = 0.263** P = 0.003, r = 0.240** P = 0.007, (r = 0.339** P < 0.001, r = 0.307** P < 0.001 r = 0.199*, P = 0.024, LA total stroke volume, passive stroke volume, LA max area, LAV max, LAVi max respectively). Heart rate (HRt) and LAVi were detected as independent predictors of pPTT (hazard ratio: −2.290 P < 0.001, 95% confidence interval (CI): −3.274–1.306, HR: 0.461, P = 0.028, 95% CI: 0.050–0.873, HRt and LAVi, respectively). Conclusion: LAVi and HRt also affected pPTT. The dominant effect of HRt on pPTT should be considered in future studies. Larger studies are needed to determine the change and clinical significance of pPTT in left heart disease.

OBJECTIVE: Premature ventricular complexes are common in healthy individuals' ambulatory monitoring. The index of cardiac-electrophysiological balance may predict malignant ventricular arrhythmias. This study investigated the relation between Premature ventricular complex burden and index of cardiac-electrophysiological balance in 24-h Holter monitoring. METHODS: A total of 257 patients who were admitted to a cardiology outpatient clinic without structural heart disease and underwent 24-h Holter monitoring were included in the study. Demographic features, laboratory parameters, and electrocardiographic and echocardiographic values of all patients were obtained from the hospital database. Patients were categorized into the following four groups according to their premature ventricular complex burden: ≤5% premature ventricular complexes as group 1, >6 and ≤10% premature ventricular complexes as group 2, >11 and ≤20% premature ventricular complexes as group 3, and >20% premature ventricular complexes as group 4. QRS, QT, and T peak to end interval were measured by resting electrocardiography. QT interval was corrected using Bazett's formula. T peak to end interval/QT, T peak to end interval/corrected QT interval, index of cardiac-electrophysiological balance, and corrected index of cardio-electrophysiological balance ratios were calculated. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between groups regarding cardiovascular risk factors. In group 4, beta-blocker usage was significantly higher, and the serum magnesium levels were significantly lower than in other groups. There was no difference in QT duration or index of cardiacelectrophysiological balance values; however, corrected index of cardio-electrophysiological balance was significantly lower in the highest premature ventricular complex group (5.1, 5.1, 4.8, 4.7, p=0.005). In multivariate backward logistic regression analyses, it was found that lower corrected index of cardio-electrophysiological balance, lower serum magnesium levels, lower serum creatinine levels, larger left atrium size, and higher T peak to end interval were associated with higher premature ventricular complexes. CONCLUSION: Corrected index of cardio-electrophysiological balance is a novel and noninvasive marker that can predict premature ventricular complex burden in patients with structurally normal hearts.