The Neonatal QRS Complex and Its Association with Left Ventricular Mass

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelForskningfagfællebedømt

To evaluate QRS complex features during the first month of life and the association with echocardiographic measurements of left ventricular mass in neonates. Prospective cohort study of neonates with electrocardiography (ECG) and echocardiography performed during the first month of life. Left ventricular mass index (LVMI) was determined by echocardiography and the correlation with electrocardiographic markers of LVMI outliers (≥ 98th percentile) were analyzed. We included 17,450 neonates (52% boys; median age at examination 11 days) and found an increase in median QRS duration and LVMI during the first month of life (54 vs. 56 ms and 24.7 vs. 28.6 g/m2 at days 0–4 and 25–30, respectively; both p < 0.001). All investigated ECG features (QRS duration, QRS area in V1/V6, maximum amplitudes of S-V1/R-V6, and the Sokolow–Lyon voltage product) showed no to low correlation with LVMI, resulting in low sensitivities (0–9.0%), but high specificities (97.2–98.1%), and area under the curve values close to the identity line (0.49–0.61) for identifying LVMI outliers. Adjustment of outlier definition for LVMI and threshold for QRS features had no significant effect on sensitivity. We present reference values for QRS complex features and their association with LVMI in neonates from a large, unselected, population-based cohort. The QRS complex gradually evolved during the first month of life but had a low correlation with LVMI. Our results indicate a poor diagnostic value of using ECG features to identify LVMI outliers in neonates.
OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftPediatric Cardiology
Vol/bind45
Udgave nummer2
Sider (fra-til)248-256
Antal sider9
ISSN0172-0643
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 2024

Bibliografisk note

Funding Information:
Open access funding provided by Copenhagen University. This work was supported by The Research Council at Herlev-Gentofte Hospital (JM), The Independent Research Fund Denmark (Grant 0134-00363B, AHC), The Novo Nordisk Foundation (NNF20OC0065799, JM; AHC), The Toyota Foundation Denmark, The Candy Foundation, The Danish Heart Foundation, and The Capital Regions Research Council.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023, The Author(s).

ID: 381681532