title: Prevalence and clinical course of the juveniles with Brugada-type ECG in Japanese population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although many studies on Brugada syndrome have been done, with many reports of genetic findings and clinical features, little evidence exists to support the role of this syndrome in sudden cardiac death in a juvenile population. We sought to determine the prevalence and clinical course in children exhibiting Brugada-type ECG in a community-based population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our study population comprised 21,944 subjects (11,282 boys and 10,662 girls) who underwent ECG during their first-year elementary school health examinations between 1992 and 2001 in Izumi City, Osaka. Brugada-type ECG was defined as demonstrating ST-segment elevation (coved or saddle-back type, J wave amplitude > or =0.2 mV) in the right precordial leads. We also divided Brugada-type ECGs into three types according to a consensus report. Type 1: coved ST-segment elevation displaying high J wave amplitude followed by a negative T wave; Type 2: high take-off and gradually descending ST-segment elevation (remaining > or =1 mm) followed by a positive or biphasic T wave; and Type 3: ST-segment elevation of <1 mm of both types.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four subjects showed Brugada-type ECG (0.02%) (2 boys and 2 girls). Only one subject, a girl, met Type 1 criteria (0.005%). No history of structural heart disease was documented in these four subjects. During 6.8 +/- 1.0 years of follow-up, no episode of unexpected sudden death, syncopal attack, and fatal arrhythmia occurred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of Brugada-type ECG in a juvenile population was extremely low. To investigate when the typical Brugada-type ECG might be manifested, it could be necessary to check ECGs after adolescence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, Osaka City University, Graduate School of Medicine, 1-4-3 Asahi-machi, Abeno-ku, Osaka 545-8585, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oe
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takagi
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Namba
authors.forename: Yoshiharu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nishibori
authors.forename: Yukio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nishida
authors.forename: Takahiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawarabayashi
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshiyama
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nishimoto
authors.forename: Kumeo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Junichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yoshikawa
mesh_terms: D002037:Bundle-Branch Block / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D013577:Syndrome