Introduction:
Resting electrocardiogram (ECG) identification of long QT syndrome (LQTS) has limitations. Uncertainty exists on how to classify patients with borderline prolonged QT intervals. We tested if exercise testing could help serve as a guide for which children with borderline prolonged QT intervals may be gene positive for LQTS.
Methods:
Pediatric patients (n=139) were divided into three groups: Controls (n=76), gene positive LQTS with borderline QTc (n=21), and gene negative patients with borderline QTc (n=42). Borderline QTc was defined between 440 to 470 (male) and 440 to 480 (female) msec. ECGs were recorded while supine, sitting, and standing. Patients then underwent treadmill stress testing using the Bruce protocol followed by a 9-minute recovery phase. Statistical analysis was completed to compare the QTc intervals amongst all three of the groups using t-test, ANOVA, and the Youden method to calculate sensitivity and specificity cut points.
Results:
Supine resting QTc, age, and Schwartz score for the three groups were: 1) Gene positive: 446 ± 23 msec, 12.4 ± 3.4 yo, 3.2 ± 1.8; 2) Gene negative: 445 ± 20 msec, 12.1 ± 2.8 yo, 2.0 ± 1.2; and 3) Control: 400 ± 24 msec, 15.0 ± 3 yo. The three groups could be differentiated by their QTc response at two time points: standing and recovery phase at six minutes. Standing QTc ≥ 460 msec differentiated borderline prolonged QTc patients (Gene positive and Gene negative) from controls with a specificity of 90% for gene positive versus control and 83% for gene negative versus control. A late recovery QTc ≥ 480 msec at minute six distinguished Gene positive from Gene negative patients with a specificity of >97%.
Conclusions:
Exercise stress testing can be useful to identify Gene positive borderline LQTS from a normal population and Gene negative borderline QTc patients, allowing for increased cost effectiveness by selectively gene testing a higher risk group of patients with borderline QTc intervals and intermediate Schwartz scores.
Corrigendum to “Aberrant autonomic pattern during the post-exercise recovery phase in Long QT syndrome patients” [Auton. Neurosci. 236 (2021) 102897]
