Does low birth weight affect P-wave and QT dispersion in childhood?

BACKGROUND

The aim of our study is to investigate the effects of low birth weight (LBW) on atrial conduction and ventricular repolarization in children by using P-wave dispersion (Pw-d) and QT dispersion (QT-d) analyses. These effects have not yet been studied in detail in LBW children.

METHODS

Fifty LBW children and 70 normal birth weight (NBW) children were enrolled in this cross-sectional controlled study. The Pw-d and QT-d of the LBW and NBW children were investigated. Independent Student's t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, and χ(2) test were performed to compare these two groups. Stepwise multiple regression analysis was performed to investigate whether there was a relationship between P-wave indices, QT derivatives, anthropometric and clinical features, and echocardiographic parameters.

RESULTS

Age, gender, body mass index, waist circumferences, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and echocardiographic measurements were similar between the LBW group and the NBW group (all P values > 0.05). The following findings were recorded for the LBW and NBW groups, respectively: the Pw-d (30 [10-50] ms vs 30 [10-50] ms, P = 0.977), QT-d (20 [10-50] ms vs 30 [15-50] ms, P = 0.561), and QTc-d (26 [14-54] ms vs 33 [17-62] ms, P = 0.866). No significant difference was found in Pw-d, QT-d, and QTc-d in comparison between the groups (all P values > 0.05). Pw-d was related to left atrial diameter and QTc-d was associated with left ventricle mass index even though they were within the normal range.

CONCLUSION

Compared with the NBW group, no significant difference was found in both atrial conduction and ventricular repolarization features in LBW children.