The longitudinal time course of QTc in early infancy. Preliminary results of a prospective sudden infant death syndrome surveillance program.
Eleven hundred one healthy neonates in Charleston County, SC, were enrolled in a prospective, serial measurement sudden infant death syndrome/QT surveillance program. Automated computer-enhanced ECGs were recorded at 1 day of age in the hospital nursery and again at 1 week and 1, 2, and 3 months in the participant's home. At 1 year, the families were contacted by phone or mail and questioned as to the health of the child. Validation studies demonstrated the computer-enhanced ECGs to be 96% accurate, whereas traditional ECG recording and measurement was 94% accurate. No systematic differences in the QTc according to race and sex were observed. There were parallel longitudinal time courses for each race and sex group with a significant (P less than .001) shortening of the QTc at 1 week. There was no evidence of tracking of the QTc during the first 3 months of life. In conclusion, (1) automated, enhanced ECG QTc intervals are superior to traditional electrocardiography while retaining the advantages of automation; (2) there is a significant shortening of the QTc during the first month of life; and (3) a home follow-up sudden infant death syndrome surveillance program is feasible and produces accurate, reliable information.
Schaffer
M S
MS
Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver.
Trippel
D L
DL
Buckles
D S
DS
Young
R H
RH
Dolan
P L
PL
Gillette
P C
PC
D003201:Computers; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000502:physiology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013022:South Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D013398:Sudden Infant Death / Q000453:epidemiology