Electrocardiography Findings in Children with Epilepsy Compared with Healthy Children

Noori, Noormohammad; Khajeh, Ali; Akhlaghi, Elmira; Teimouri, Alireza

doi:10.22038/ijp.2019.39799.3386

Electrocardiography Findings in Children with Epilepsy Compared with Healthy Children

Authors

¹ Children & Adolescent Health Research Center, Resistant Tuberculosis Institute, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan 9816743111, Iran.

² School of Medicine, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan 9816743111, Iran.

10.22038/ijp.2019.39799.3386

Abstract

Background
Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological diseases. Over the last decades the hypothesis of cardiovascular effects from sudden seizure has been raised, and cardiac rhythm and ECG changes in these patients have been highlighted. The study aimed to evaluate the electrocardiography findings in children with epilepsy compared with healthy children.
Materials and Methods
In this case-control study, 90 patients aged between 6 months and 18 years who were matched with equal number of healthy children who referred to pediatric ward the of 'Ali Ebne Abi Talib' hospital in Zahedan, Iran. The study was performed in multicenter of Neurology and Cardiology centers. In the patients, the epilepsy was confirmed by a unique pediatric neurologist based on the definition of having at least two unprovoked seizures in 24 hours. ECG was captured from all participants by a pediatric cardiologist.
Results
In patients, 45.6% (n= 41) were females and in healthy 51.1% (n= 46) were females. Mean age of participants was similar in patients and healthy children (p=0.060). ECG findings such as QT min (p=0.001), R-R interval (p<0.001), Heart rate (p<0.001), S in V1 (p=0.002), R in aVL (p<0.001), S in V3 (p=0.003), QTd (p<0.001), QTcd (p<0.001), QTc max (p<0.001), and LV mass (p=0.007) were different in patients compared to controls. In patients, from ECG parameters, R in V5 was higher in male patients (p=0.043).
Conclusion
Based on the results, QTc, QTd, QTcd were prolonged in patients with epilepsy and, R in V5 was higher in male patients. To prevent abnormality rhythm in epilepsy, it is needed to evaluate QT to recognize the autonomic changes.

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