Voluntary hyperventilation for 10 to 15 seconds induced inversion of previously upright precordial T waves in 15% of children and adolescents aged 8 to 17 years.
Observational (n=296)
Does voluntary hyperventilation induce precordial T-wave inversion in children and adolescents?
Voluntary hyperventilation frequently induces nonpathological T-wave inversion in children and adolescents, highlighting the need to recognize this physiological response to prevent misdiagnosis of heart disease.
Following the taking of 12-lead routine electrocardiograms, three precordial leads were recorded before, during, and after 10 to 15 seconds of voluntary hyperventilation in 296 students, ranging in age from 8 to 17 years. Fifteen per cent of the total group, comprising 212 Caucasians and 84 Negroes, inverted one or more previously upright precordial T waves following hyperventilation. The incidence of T-wave inversion in children 12 years of age and under was nearly four times greater in Caucasians than in Negroes. There was no significant difference when the older Negro and Caucasian students were similarly compared. Sinus tachycardia, T-wave flattening, and "tucking," short of frank inversion, as well as junctional depression of the ST segment, were commonly seen following hyperventilation. The similarity of the hyperventilation-induced T-wave inversion in children to those previously documented in adults is noted, and the clinical implication of this study requires continued cognizance of the occurrence of "nonpathological" T-wave inversion in adults, so as to avoid iatrogenic heart disease.
Thomsen et al. (Wed,) reported a observational. Voluntary hyperventilation vs. Baseline was evaluated on Inversion of one or more previously upright precordial T waves. Voluntary hyperventilation for 10 to 15 seconds induced inversion of previously upright precordial T waves in 15% of children and adolescents aged 8 to 17 years.