Predicting factors for unresolved premature ventricular complexes in healthy children

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Cardiology
• Electrophysiology
• Clinical Pediatrics

Background:

• Premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) are typically benign in children with structurally normal hearts.
• However, a high PVC burden can indicate potential ventricular tachycardia or left ventricular dysfunction.
• Understanding the natural history of PVCs in this population is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the natural history of PVCs in children with structurally normal hearts.
• To identify factors associated with the persistence or resolution of PVCs.
• To inform clinical management and monitoring strategies.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of demographic and clinical data from pediatric patients (<18 years) with confirmed PVCs.
• Inclusion of 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) and 24-hour Holter monitoring data.
• Evaluation of follow-up data to determine PVC resolution status.

Main Results:

• 113 children (mean age 8.35 years, 62.8% males) were analyzed with a mean follow-up of 44.9 months.
• Initial PVC burden averaged 13.54%.
• Older age at onset (OR 1.09) and female sex (OR 2.25) were significantly associated with unresolved PVCs.

Conclusions:

• Older age at initial onset and female sex are key predictors of persistent PVCs in healthy children.
• These findings underscore the importance of individualized monitoring approaches for specific pediatric subgroups.
• Despite potential persistence, PVCs in healthy children generally have a favorable prognosis.