QTc Intervals in Youth Are Often Shorter at Follow-Up Than in the ED

But this study's methodology was so weak that we can't draw any meaningful interpretation.

Investigators retrospectively assessed the prevalence and clinical significance of prolonged QTc values (≥440 milliseconds) in 403 patients (age range, 0–22 years; mean age, 17 years) who presented to a pediatric emergency department (ED) during 1 year and for whom an electrocardiogram (ECG) was obtained. Patients were excluded if they had congenital heart disease, arrhythmias, electrolyte abnormalities, or exposure to QT interval-prolonging medications.

Indications for ECGs were chest pain (115 patients), syncope (104), ingestions or overdose (52), psychiatric or neurological complaints (39), abdominal pain (21), palpitations, (20), and “other” (52). QTc intervals ranged from 344–566 milliseconds; 131 patients (33%) had QTc intervals >440 m…

Reviewing Author

Katherine Bakes, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier)

Grant/Research SupportDepartment of Justice

Editorial BoardsEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier); Rosen’s Emergency Medicine (Elsevier)

Katherine Bakes, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier)

Grant/Research SupportDepartment of Justice

Editorial BoardsEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier); Rosen’s Emergency Medicine (Elsevier)