Can atrial fibrillation have P waves?

Absence of P waves suggests either. No normal atrial depolarization , e.g., atrial fibrillation, atrial standstill. The P waves are hidden within the QRS complexes, e.g., ventricular tachycardia, junctional tachycardia.

Absence of P Waves A lack of visible P waves preceding QRS complexes suggests a lack of sinus beats ; this may occur with sinus dysfunction or in the presence of fibrillation or flutter waves. The P wave may also be hidden within the QRS complex.

Diagnosis – Atrial Fibrillation. The diagnosis of atrial fibrillation is confirmed with a standard 12-lead ECG. P waves are absent , coarse “fibrillatory waves” can frequently be seen and sometimes no atrial activity can be identified. The QRS complexes are “irregularly irregular”, with varying R-R intervals.