Corrected qt interval in normal egyptian neonates: Comparison to corrected qt interval of other ethnic groups

Long QT syndromes (LQTs) is a familial cardiovascular disorder characterized by abnormal cardiac repolarization and sudden death from ventricular fibrillation Possible acquisition of standardized neonatal screening method to identify children with (LQTs) has led to interest in establishing normal values for neonatal QT intervals.Aim of the workto compare corrected QT interval in normal Egyptian neonates to published values of other ethnic groups.Subjects and methodsThis cross sectional study was conducted on neonates following up in Children’s Hospital Ain Shams University, with post natal ages ranging from 8 to 28days (mean 13.91±3.97days). They were subjected to: history taking, clinical examination, Echocardiography and 12 lead ECG assessment of corrected QT interval using Bazetts formula Results: Cut off point of LQTc was >0.44s, while that of short QTc was< 0.29s significant increase in mean QTc values and LQTc %was found in upper Egypt than Delta (p 0.026, 0.01). Eighty five percent of neonates had normal QTc (0.300–0.450s), 9% had LQTc (>0.45s) and 6% had short QTc (<0.300s) significant increase in short QTc was found in PT than FT while significant increase in LQTc was found in FT (P=0.020, 0.019).ConclusionCut off point was >0.44s for LQTc and < 0.29s for short QTc in studied Egyptian neonates A higher percentage of patients with LQTc was found in Upper Egypt than Delta, and in FT than PT. Higher percentage of SQTc was found in PT than FT. Further studies are needed to confirm our results