Key result
Infants aged 6 to 11 weeks had the longest QTc intervals compared to other age groups up to 52 weeks (p<0.0001), suggesting one month of age is appropriate for ECG screening.
Why the study?
Does the QTc interval vary by age in infancy, and when is the optimal time for ECG screening for Long QT Syndrome?
Observational (n=1,058)
Does the QTc interval vary by age in infancy, and when is the optimal time for ECG screening for Long QT Syndrome?
p-value: p=<0.0001
The QTc interval peaks at 6-11 weeks of age, suggesting that 1 month of age may be the appropriate time for ECG screening for QT prolongation to prevent SIDS.
Age-dependent QTc peaks in infancy are hypothesis-generating; should not yet change screening practices without prospective validation.
Background: Electrocardiographic and molecular studies have clarified an association between sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and long QT syndrome (LQTS), and few data are available for the QT interval in infancy from birth to 1 year of age. Appropriate time of electrocardiographic screening is not clarified. Medical examinations during infancy are mandatory in Japan. Methods and Results: The study population included 1,058 infants. Electrocardiograms were collected with information of infants at birth and at examination. The QT intervals of three consecutive beats were measured in lead V 5 . Statistical analysis revealed that the following formula was appropriate to minimize the effect of heart rate for infants: corrected QT interval; QTc = QT interval/RR interval 0.43 . Subjects were divided into four groups as follows: 0–2, 3–6, 6–11, and 12–52 weeks of age. Tukey's multiple comparison showed that the QTc intervals were longest (p < 0:0001) in subjects who were 6–11 weeks of age. Conclusions: The QTc interval showed the highest peak at 6‐11 weeks of age in infancy. The peak period of occurrence of SIDS is at approximately 2 months of age. An appropriate time of electrocardiographic screening for QT prolongation will be one month of age, and follow‐up studies are needed.
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Yoshinaga et al. (2011) conducted an observational in Long QT Syndrome (n=1,058). Infant age vs. Different age groups (0-2, 3-6, 6-11, and 12-52 weeks) was evaluated on QTc interval (p=<0.0001). Infants aged 6 to 11 weeks had the longest QTc intervals compared to other age groups up to 52 weeks (p<0.0001), suggesting one month of age is appropriate for ECG screening.
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