{"title":"Consequences of electrocardiography screening for prolonged QTc in neonates—A systematic review","authors":"Anna Leppänen BM , Emmi Helle MD, PhD , Ilari Kuitunen MD, PhD","doi":"10.1016/j.hrthm.2025.02.045","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>An ongoing discussion has been the effectiveness of neonatal electrocardiography (ECG) screening for long QT syndrome (LQTS).</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>The aim of this systematic review was to assess the consequences of ECG screening for prolonged corrected QT (QTc) interval in infants younger than 1 month.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We searched the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases in June 2024. The incidence rates of prolonged QTc, defined as >450 ms, were calculated per 1000 neonates. Prolonged QTc cases, including normalization during follow-up, LQTS diagnosis, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), were analyzed.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Eight studies were included. Five studies using a cutoff QTc >450 ms reported incidences ranging from 5 (95% confidence interval [CI], 5–6) to 79 (CI, 60–102) per 1000 neonates. Six studies with a cutoff of >460 ms reported incidences ranging from 1 (CI, 1–2) to 53 (CI, 50–57). Five studies (cutoff QTc >470 ms) had incidences varying from 1 (CI, 0–1) to 28 (CI, 21–35). In 6 studies, QTc normalization during follow-up occurred in 57.1% to 95.2% of neonates with prolonged QTc. The diagnosis of LQTS was reported in 4 studies, with 21 of 51,817 (0.04%) neonates later diagnosed with LQTS. Two studies reported SIDS outcomes, finding prolonged QTc in 8 of 24 and 3 of 3 SIDS cases.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The incidence of prolonged QTc varied widely across studies. Only a small proportion of neonates with prolonged QTc were diagnosed with LQTS during follow-up. Further research with standardized study factors and comprehensive genetic analysis is needed to determine the utility of and indications for neonatal ECG screening.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12886,"journal":{"name":"Heart rhythm","volume":"22 10","pages":"Pages 2689-2694"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7000,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Heart rhythm","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1547527125002164","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"CARDIAC & CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEMS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background
An ongoing discussion has been the effectiveness of neonatal electrocardiography (ECG) screening for long QT syndrome (LQTS).
Objective
The aim of this systematic review was to assess the consequences of ECG screening for prolonged corrected QT (QTc) interval in infants younger than 1 month.
Methods
We searched the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases in June 2024. The incidence rates of prolonged QTc, defined as >450 ms, were calculated per 1000 neonates. Prolonged QTc cases, including normalization during follow-up, LQTS diagnosis, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), were analyzed.
Results
Eight studies were included. Five studies using a cutoff QTc >450 ms reported incidences ranging from 5 (95% confidence interval [CI], 5–6) to 79 (CI, 60–102) per 1000 neonates. Six studies with a cutoff of >460 ms reported incidences ranging from 1 (CI, 1–2) to 53 (CI, 50–57). Five studies (cutoff QTc >470 ms) had incidences varying from 1 (CI, 0–1) to 28 (CI, 21–35). In 6 studies, QTc normalization during follow-up occurred in 57.1% to 95.2% of neonates with prolonged QTc. The diagnosis of LQTS was reported in 4 studies, with 21 of 51,817 (0.04%) neonates later diagnosed with LQTS. Two studies reported SIDS outcomes, finding prolonged QTc in 8 of 24 and 3 of 3 SIDS cases.
Conclusion
The incidence of prolonged QTc varied widely across studies. Only a small proportion of neonates with prolonged QTc were diagnosed with LQTS during follow-up. Further research with standardized study factors and comprehensive genetic analysis is needed to determine the utility of and indications for neonatal ECG screening.
期刊介绍:
HeartRhythm, the official Journal of the Heart Rhythm Society and the Cardiac Electrophysiology Society, is a unique journal for fundamental discovery and clinical applicability.
HeartRhythm integrates the entire cardiac electrophysiology (EP) community from basic and clinical academic researchers, private practitioners, engineers, allied professionals, industry, and trainees, all of whom are vital and interdependent members of our EP community.
The Heart Rhythm Society is the international leader in science, education, and advocacy for cardiac arrhythmia professionals and patients, and the primary information resource on heart rhythm disorders. Its mission is to improve the care of patients by promoting research, education, and optimal health care policies and standards.