ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHY CHANGES IN CHILDREN WITH FEBRILE CONVULSION, BREATH-HOLDING COMPARED TO CONTROLS

Abstract

Objective: Cardiovascular changes are related to some of epilepsy disorders such as seizures and breath holding. The study objective was to evaluate ECG findings in breath-holding and febrile convulsion compared to healthy individuals.

Methodology: This Cross-sectional study was conducted on 270 children of 90 with febrile convulsion, 90 with breath-holding patients and 90 healthy children in 2019.  Electrocardiography parameters of; QT interval, dispersion QT, corrected QT and dispersion QTc measured for participants. Consent form was asked to be signed by the parents before the study execution. Data analysis done by SPSS 20.0 considering 0.05 as significant error.

Results: Females were 46(51.1%), 38(42.2%) and 35(38.9%) in control, febrile convulsion and breath holding, respectively. QTc was normal in 97.8%, 76.7% and 71.1% of controls, febrile convulsion and breath holding respectively. A significant association observed between QTc measures in different groups (p<0.001). QTd was normal in 100.00%, 98.9% and 96.7% of controls, febrile convulsion and breath holding respectively with a non-significant association in groups of participants (p=0.196). QTcd was normal in 95.6%, 72.2% and 85.6% of controls, febrile convulsion and breath holding respectively with a significant association (p<0.001).

Conclusion: Concluded that QTc was higher in breath-holding compared to febrile convulsion. QTcd was higher in febrile convulsion compared to breath-holding spells. Both were higher than controls QTd were higher significantly in the febrile convulsion compared to children with breath-holding spells. The results of the study suggested performing ECG for children who suffered from seizures or breath- holding spells to control their cardiac dysrhythmia.