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Heart rate variability in children with Fontan circulation

A Rydberg1, P Rask, R Hörnsten

  • 1Department of Clinical Sciences, Paediatrics, Section of Paediatric Cardiology, Umeå University Hospital, S-901 85 Umeå, Sweden. Annika.Rydberg@pediatri.umu.se

Pediatric Cardiology
|January 17, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Children with Fontan circulation show reduced heart rate variability (HRV), indicating impaired cardiovascular autonomic control. This reduction in HRV progresses with age in these patients.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Autonomic Function Testing

Background:

  • Heart rate variability (HRV) assesses cardiovascular autonomic control.
  • Fontan circulation is a surgical procedure for single-ventricle congenital heart defects.
  • Understanding HRV changes in Fontan patients is crucial for monitoring their long-term health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate heart rate variability (HRV) in children with Fontan circulation.
  • To analyze the changes in HRV over time in this patient group.
  • To compare HRV parameters between Fontan patients and healthy controls.

Main Methods:

  • Study included 34 children: 10 with Fontan circulation (Group A) and 24 healthy controls (Group B).
  • Evaluations involved echocardiography and 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiogram to analyze HRV.
  • Participants were analyzed in subgroups based on age (younger and older than 10 years).

Main Results:

  • No significant overall differences in HRV parameters between all Fontan patients and controls.
  • Children with Fontan circulation younger than 10 years showed significant differences in two HRV parameters compared to controls.
  • Patients older than 10 years exhibited significantly reduced HRV, with eight parameters affected, particularly in low and high-frequency ranges (p < 0.008).

Conclusions:

  • Patients with Fontan circulation demonstrate reduced HRV, confirming previous findings.
  • A progressive reduction in HRV over time is indicated in children with Fontan circulation.
  • Age-related decline in autonomic function is evident in Fontan survivors.

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