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Risk factors for aborted cardiac arrest and sudden cardiac death in children with the congenital long-QT syndrome.

Authors :
Goldenberg I
Moss AJ
Peterson DR
McNitt S
Zareba W
Andrews ML
Robinson JL
Locati EH
Ackerman MJ
Benhorin J
Kaufman ES
Napolitano C
Priori SG
Qi M
Schwartz PJ
Towbin JA
Vincent GM
Zhang L
Source :
Circulation [Circulation] 2008 Apr 29; Vol. 117 (17), pp. 2184-91. Date of Electronic Publication: 2008 Apr 21.
Publication Year :
2008

Abstract

Background: The congenital long-QT syndrome (LQTS) is an important cause of sudden cardiac death in children without structural heart disease. However, specific risk factors for life-threatening cardiac events in children with this genetic disorder have not been identified.<br />Methods and Results: Cox proportional-hazards regression modeling was used to identify risk factors for aborted cardiac arrest or sudden cardiac death in 3015 LQTS children from the International LQTS Registry who were followed up from 1 through 12 years of age. The cumulative probability of the combined end point was significantly higher in boys (5%) than in girls (1%; P<0.001). Risk factors for cardiac arrest or sudden cardiac death during childhood included corrected QT interval [QTc] duration > 500 ms (hazard ratio [HR]; 2.72; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.50 to 4.92; P=0.001) and prior syncope (recent syncope [< 2 years]: HR, 6.16; 95% CI 3.41 to 11.15; P<0.001; remote syncope [> or = 2 years]: HR, 2.67; 95% CI, 1.22 to 5.85; P=0.01) in boys, whereas prior syncope was the only significant risk factor among girls (recent syncope: HR, 27.82; 95% CI, 9.72 to 79.60; P<0.001; remote syncope: HR, 12.04; 95% CI, 3.79 to 38.26; P<0.001). Beta-blocker therapy was associated with a significant 53% reduction in the risk of cardiac arrest or sudden cardiac death (P=0.01).<br />Conclusions: LQTS boys experience a significantly higher rate of fatal or near-fatal cardiac events than girls during childhood. A QTc duration > 500 ms and a history of prior syncope identify risk in boys, whereas prior syncope is the only significant risk factor among girls. Beta-blocker therapy is associated with a significant reduction in the risk of life-threatening cardiac events during childhood.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1524-4539
Volume :
117
Issue :
17
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Circulation
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
18427136
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.107.701243