Why the study?
What is the prevalence and nature of cardiac arrhythmias and conduction abnormalities detected by ECG and 24-hour monitoring in unselected newborn infants?
What is the prevalence and nature of cardiac arrhythmias and conduction abnormalities detected by ECG and 24-hour monitoring in unselected newborn infants?
Serious but asymptomatic cardiac arrhythmias and conduction abnormalities can be present in newborn infants, suggesting a potential link to unexplained sudden infant deaths.
Does not justify routine newborn ECG screening; leaves open arrhythmia contribution to sudden infant death.
In an unselected population of 2030 newborn infants studied by electrocardiography (ECG) between April 1975 and April 1977, 35 were found to have arrhythmias or other cardiac conduction abnormalities. Further investigation by means of 24-hour ECG monitoring showed that apparently serious tachyarrhythmias, such as ventricular tachycardia and slow heart rates associated with sinoatrial block, may be present without clinical disturbance in some newborn babies. Six infants had both bradycardia and tachycardia in the 24-hour recording, although the screening ECG had shown only one of these abnormalities. The alarming ECG appearance of some of the arrhythmias suggested a possible aetiological link with some unexplained sudden infant deaths: a multicentre study could determine this more readily and is therefore recommended.
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Southall et al. (1977) studied this question.
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