Autism Spectrum Disorder and Cardiovascular Risk: The Role of Frontal QRS-T Angle and Systemic Immune-Inflammation...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Cardiology
• Neuroscience
• Immunology

Background:

• Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with autonomic dysfunction and inflammation.
• Routine electrocardiography (ECG) findings in pediatric ASD populations are not well-defined.
• The relationship between inflammatory markers and ECG parameters in youth with ASD requires investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between inflammatory indices and ECG markers, specifically the frontal QRS-T angle (fQRS-T), in children and adolescents with ASD.
• To compare ECG parameters and inflammatory markers between youth with ASD and healthy controls (HC).

Main Methods:

• A case-control study involving children and adolescents diagnosed with ASD and age/sex-matched HC.
• Collection of sociodemographic data, complete blood counts, biochemistry, hormones, and standard 12-lead ECGs.
• Calculation of inflammatory composites including the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and measurement of fQRS-T from ECGs.

Main Results:

• ASD participants (n=84) exhibited higher heart rates and wider fQRS-T angles compared to HC (n=82).
• The systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) was modestly higher in the ASD group.
• Autism Behavior Checklist scores correlated significantly with SII and fQRS-T, indicating a link between behavioral severity and both inflammation and repolarization heterogeneity.

Conclusions:

• ASD is associated with increased fQRS-T and SII, suggesting potential autonomic and inflammatory dysregulation detectable by ECG.
• Behavioral severity in ASD tracks with inflammatory markers and repolarization abnormalities.
• Findings suggest an interplay between inflammatory, autonomic, and electrophysiological processes in ASD.