QTc Interval Dispersion in Pediatric Epilepsy: A Case–Control Study From Iran

TL;DR

This study found that young children with epilepsy have higher QT interval dispersion compared to healthy children, and that medication use affects this measure.

Contribution

The study identifies age under five and antiepileptic drug use as significant factors influencing QTcd in pediatric epilepsy patients.

Findings

Children with epilepsy under 5 years old had significantly higher QTcd than controls (p = 0.014).

Children with epilepsy on medication had significantly lower QTcd than those not on treatment (p = 0.026).

Overall QTcd did not differ significantly between epileptic and control children (p > 0.05).

Abstract

QT interval corrected dispersion (QTcd) reflects the heterogeneity of ventricular repolarization and has been proposed as a marker for arrhythmic risk in various neurologic and cardiac conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate QTcd differences between children with epilepsy and healthy controls, with attention to age and antiepileptic drug use.

A case–control study was conducted on 50 children with epilepsy and 50 age‐ and sex‐matched control children admitted to Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Kashan in 2019. QTcd was manually measured from 12‐lead electrocardiograms (ECGs). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22.

No overall significant difference was observed in QTcd between groups (p > 0.05). However, children with epilepsy under 5 years of age had significantly higher QTcd than controls of the same age (p = 0.014). Moreover, QTcd was significantly lower in children with epilepsy receiving medication compared with those not on treatment (p = 0.026).

Although overall QTcd did not differ significantly between epileptic and control children, age under five and antiepileptic drug use significantly influenced QTcd. These findings suggest the importance of cardiac evaluation and early treatment in younger patients with epilepsy.

This medical illustration emphasizes QT interval changes in an electrocardiogram (ECG), a crucial factor in children with epilepsy. The magnified QT segment signifies its importance in cardiac monitoring, while subtle neurological elements symbolize the connection between epilepsy and cardiac function.

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