Long-term effects of permanent pacemaker therapy on growth in children with complete heart block

Complete heart block (CHB) is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition in childhood. A permanent pacemaker (PM) can provide a physiologically appropriate heart rate under defined criteria. It is known that normal cardiac function plays an important role in growth, which is the main indicator of health in childhood. While a holistic health approach is increasingly emphasized, there are limited data in the literature evaluating long-term growth in pediatric patients with a PM. This study aimed to assess the impact of PM implantation on growth in children with CHB.

This study included 25 pediatric patients (11 girls, 14 boys) aged 2-16 years with CHB who underwent PM implantation. Anthropometric measurements, including height, weight, and body mass index (BMI), were recorded pre-implantation and at follow-up, continuing until age 18. Z scores adjusted for age and gender were calculated and compared between baseline and final follow-up.

The mean follow-up duration was 7.65 ± 2.79 years. Statistically significant increases were observed in weight and BMI Z scores post-implantation (p < 0.05). Although height Z scores also showed an upward trend, the change did not reach statistical significance.

Permanent PM implantation in children with CHB is associated with significant improvements in weight and BMI over the long term, indicating a positive influence on overall growth. While height gains were less marked, the findings suggest that improved cardiac function post-implantation supports better growth trajectories. These results underscore the importance of timely PM implantation, with favorable growth outcomes observed over long-term follow-up in pediatric patients with CHB.