Does Iron Deficiency Affect the Heart in Children?

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Cardiology
• Cardiovascular Health
• Electrophysiology

Background:

• Serum iron parameters are crucial for cardiovascular health.
• Iron deficiency can cause cardiac issues like conduction abnormalities and dysfunction.
• Limited research exists on iron deficiency's cardiac effects in children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of low iron stores on cardiac repolarization in children.
• To assess the relationship between ferritin levels and parameters predicting arrhythmia and cardiac function.

Main Methods:

• Prospective evaluation of 135 children (2-18 years) without structural heart disease.
• Stratification into three groups based on ferritin levels (<15, 15-25, >25 ng/mL).
• Utilized 12-lead surface electrocardiography (ECG) and transthoracic echocardiogram for assessments.

Main Results:

• Children with low ferritin (<15 ng/mL) showed significantly prolonged repolarization parameters (Pw, QT, Tp-Te intervals and their variants) compared to the high ferritin group (>25 ng/mL).
• A negative correlation was observed between ferritin levels and prolonged repolarization parameters.
• No significant differences were found in systolic function or ventricular dimensions.

Conclusions:

• Low iron stores in children may predispose them to arrhythmias.
• Careful ECG evaluation and monitoring of children with low iron are essential.
• Further research into iron's role in pediatric cardiac electrophysiology is warranted.