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QT interval and final portion of T wave: measurements and dispersion in infants born at high altitude
Abdel J Fuenmayor1, Frances U Stock, Akbar C Fuenmayor
1Clinical Electrophysiology Section, Dr. Abdel M. Fuenmayor P. Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of The Andes, Apartado Postal 154, Mérida, 5101 Venezuela. ajf@cantv.net
Insights
Infants born at high altitudes exhibit distinct cardiac electrical activity, with longer corrected QT intervals and shorter peak-to-end of T wave durations compared to those born at lower altitudes.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pediatrics
- Altitude Physiology
Background:
- Cardiac electrophysiology in neonates may be influenced by birth altitude.
- Understanding these differences is crucial for assessing infant cardiac health in diverse environments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate differences in cardiac depolarization and repolarization between newborns at high and low altitudes.
- To compare electrocardiogram (ECG) parameters in infants born at varying elevations.
Main Methods:
- Studied 90 healthy newborns across three altitude groups (3500m, 3000m, 1600m).
- Recorded conventional 12-lead electrocardiograms (ECGs).
- Analyzed corrected QT interval, peak-to-end T wave duration, dispersion indexes, and heart rate.
Main Results:
- High-altitude infants (3500m, 3000m) showed significantly longer corrected QT intervals.
- Infants born at high altitudes had significantly shorter peak-to-end of T wave intervals.
- No significant differences in heart rate or dispersion indexes were observed.
Conclusions:
- Cardiac depolarization and repolarization processes differ in infants born at high altitudes compared to low altitudes.
- Altitude appears to influence specific ECG parameters related to ventricular repolarization in newborns.
Background:
This research was conducted to determine whether the depolarization and repolarization cardiac process of children born at high altitude differs from that of children born at lower altitudes.
Methods:
We studied three groups of 30 healthy newborns in the Venezuelan Andes. Group 3500 m consisted of infants born at 3500 m above sea level; Group 3000 m of infants born at 3000 m above sea level and Group 1600 m of infants born at 1600 m above sea level. Conventional 12-lead electrocardiograms were recorded in the 90 newborns. Corrected QT interval, duration from the peak to the end of the T wave, dispersion of QT interval and of the final portion of T wave and heart rate were computed in each subject.
Results:
The findings of the present study show that infants born at high altitude (Groups 3500 and 3000 m) had a significantly longer corrected QT interval and a significantly shorter peak-to-end of T wave interval. Neither the heart rate nor the indexes of dispersion of the depolarization-repolarization process revealed abnormal values or significant differences among the groups.
Conclusions:
These results suggest that the depolarization and repolarization cardiac process of infants born at high altitude differs from that of children born at lower altitudes.
