Abstract
A prospective electrocardiographic study was performed in 2,572 newborns, 1,326 males and 1,246 females, to evaluate the predictive value of QT interval for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Electrocardiograms, with babies asleep, were recorded at the ages of 4 days, 2, 4, 6 months, and 1 year. The QTc (mean±SD) was 391±23 at 4 days, 412±16 at 2 months (n=1,768) (p<.0001), 404±17 at 4 months (n=1,368), 401±16 at 6 months (n=1,225), and 397±16 at 1 year (n=915). QTc, calculated in males and females, resulted significantly longer (393 vs 391) (p<.01) at 4 days. QTc values longer than the mean plus 3 SD were considered prolonged. Heart rate values were 135 16 at 4 days, 145±15 at 2 months (p<.0001), 135±11 at 4 months, 133±11 at 6 months, and 129±9 at 1 year. In 71 babies (2.8%) the QTc was prolonged and 4 (0.16%) of these died suddenly: the first at 3 months (QTc=470, HR=147); the second after 7 weeks (QTc=514, HR=115); the third at 3 months (QTc=464, HR=140 at 4 days; the fourth at 2 months (QTc=401; HR=149). In conclusion, our data provide further information on the understanding of SIDS mechanisms.
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Pugliese, F., Costa, R., Crisara, D. et al. 354 THE CRIB DEATH: OF INTERVAL AND HR DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF LIFE. Pediatr Res 36, 61 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199407000-00354
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199407000-00354