Epidemiology and related risk factors of prolonged QT interval in neonates

To investigate the epidemiology and related risk factors of prolonged QT interval (PQTI) in neonates.

This was a retrospective study. A cohort of one thousand neonates admitted to the Obstetrics and Neonatology department of The People's Hospital of Suzhou New District from January 2021 to December 2023 was enrolled in the study. Neonates were categorized into four groups based on their birth gestational age: healthy full-term group, diseased full-term group, healthy preterm group, and diseased preterm group. The incidence of PQTI in neonates across these group was observed, compared and investigated the risk factors for PQTI. The diagnostic value of QTcHod, QTcFri, and QTcFra was assessed using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

Among the 1,000 neonates, 51(5.10%) exhibited PQTI. The incidence of PQTI was 0.98% (7/714) for Group-1, 3.64%(2/55) for Group-2, 15.05%(28/186) for Group-3, and 31.11%(14/45) for Group-4. Statistically significant differences were observed in the incidence of PQTI between the four groups(χ² = 137.637, P < 0.001, respectively). Statistically significant differences were found in the QTcBaz levels across the four groups(P< 0.05, respectively). The ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve for QTcHod, QTcFri, and QTcFra in diagnosing PQTI was 0.785, 0.741, and 0.812, with sensitivities of 78.40%, 74.60%, and 89.30%, respectively, indicating their high diagnostic value.

PQTI is relatively uncommon in neonates. Birth gestational age, 1-minute Apgar score, 5-minute Apgar score, PROM, fetal distress, QTcHod, QTcFri, and QTcFra are significant risk factors for PQTI in neonates.