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Published on: April 29, 2013
Prevalence of early repolarisation pattern in children
Philippe Maury1, Céline Authenac2, Anne Rollin2
1University Hospital Rangueil, Toulouse, France; Unité Inserm U 1048, Toulouse, France.
Insights
Early repolarisation (ER) affects nearly a quarter of children, with prevalence increasing after age eight. This common ECG pattern is linked to non-Caucasian origin and slower heart rates in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Electrocardiography
- Public Health
Background:
- The prevalence of the early repolarisation (ER) ECG pattern is well-documented in adults.
- Data on ER prevalence in large, unselected pediatric populations is lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of the early repolarisation (ER) ECG pattern in a large cohort of healthy children.
- To investigate correlations between ER and various demographic and physiological factors in children.
Main Methods:
- Prospective ECG recording and analysis of 1000 healthy children aged 0-17 years.
- ER defined by J point elevation (≥0.1mV) in contiguous inferior or lateral leads.
- Correlations assessed with age, gender, ethnicity, physical activity, Sokolow index, and heart rate.
Main Results:
- The prevalence of the ER pattern was 23.6% (95% CI 21-26.2%) in the studied children.
- ER prevalence increased significantly after 8 years of age.
- ER was independently correlated with non-Caucasian origin, higher Sokolow index, older age (in children with heart rate <100bpm), and slower heart rate (in children ≥8 years).
Conclusions:
- The early repolarisation (ER) ECG pattern is common in children, affecting approximately a quarter of the pediatric population.
- ER in children is associated with ethnic background, older age, slower heart rate, and a higher Sokolow index.
- These findings highlight the need to consider these factors when interpreting the ER pattern in pediatric electrocardiograms.
Background:
Prevalence of early repolarisation ECG pattern (ER) has been repetitively determined in adults, but has not been reported in large unselected children populations so far.
Methods:
ECG from 1000 successive healthy children from birth to 17years old were prospectively recorded and analyzed. ER was defined by ≥0.1mV J point elevation in at least two contiguous inferior or lateral ECG leads. Correlations with age, gender, ethnic origin, physical activity, Sokolow index and heart rate were performed.
Results:
Prevalence of ER pattern was 23,6% (95% CI 21-26.2%) and increased after 8years of age. ER was independently correlated to a non Caucasian origin and a higher Sokolow index, but not to gender or level of physical activity. ER was independently correlated to an older age in children with heart rate <100bpm, and to a slower heart rate in children ≥8yo.
Conclusion:
ER is present in a quarter of children of various age and is related to ethnic origin, an older age, a slower heart rate and a higher Sokolow index.
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