Why the study?
What are the electrocardiographic changes in children with kwashiorkor compared to healthy controls?
What are the electrocardiographic changes in children with kwashiorkor compared to healthy controls?
Electrocardiographic changes in kwashiorkor, such as low QRS amplitude, correlate strongly with cardiothoracic ratio, suggesting they are driven by myocardial atrophy rather than electrolyte imbalances.
Suggests cardiac monitoring in kwashiorkor; hypothesis-generating and should not yet change practice.
An electrocardiogram (ECG), serum electrolytes, serum albumin, haematocrit and cardiothoracic ratio were recorded in 90 Nigerian children with kwashiorkor and 90 age- and sex-matched controls. The ECG abnormalities observed among the study group included sinus tachycardia (91%), low QRS amplitude (100%) and prolonged QTc intervals (17%). Other ECG abnormalities noted were short QTc intervals (three children), prolonged PR intervals (four children) and right axis deviation (two children). The mean serum sodium, potassium, calcium, albumin, haematocrit and cardiothoracic ratio were significantly lower in children with kwashiorkor than in the controls (p < 0.001). The correlation between the QRS amplitude and serum potassium and calcium was poor (p > 0.05). Also, there was poor correlation between heart rate and haematocrit (p > 0.05) and between QTc intervals and serum calcium and potassium (p > 0.05). However, the correlation between the QRS amplitude and cardiothoracic ratio was good (r = 0.91, p < 0.001). These findings suggest that the ECG changes in kwashiorkor are due to myocardial atrophy.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Olowonyo et al. (1993) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: