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Electrocardiographic Parameters in Indian Newborns

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Abstract

Objective

To generate data of electrocardiogram (ECG) parameters according to gestational age in Indian newborns.

Methods

An observational study was carried out over 7 months in neonatology unit of a tertiary care teaching hospital. Following auscultation, ECG parameters were recorded simultaneously in 12 leads, on third day of life, in hemodynamically stable neonates. Data from 364 babies were analyzed, keeping at least 30 records for each gestational age between 30 to 42 weeks.

Results

There was no difference in mean heart rate recorded through auscultation and ECG traces. The mean (SD) values recorded were: P wave duration 0.04 (0.01) s, P wave amplitude 1.3 (0.4) mm, T wave duration 0.07 (0.02) s, T wave amplitude 1.1 (0.6) mm, PR interval 0.09 (0.02) s, QRS duration 0.04 (0.01) s, QT interval 0.26 (0.02) s, QTc 0.4 (0.03) s and QRS axis 127 (22) degree. Gestation age-wise percentile charts of different ECG parameters were generated.

Conclusion

These gestational age-wise percentile charts of different ECG parameters for Indian newborns can be used as reference for neonatal ECG.

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Funding

Funding: None; Competing Interest: None stated.

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Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Contributions

Contributors: MHSk: primary investigator, data collection, manuscript drafting and review; AB: data collection, patient management, literature search; JS: study design, patient management, data interpretation; AH: literature search, statistical analysis, manuscript review; SKH: technical inputs in data Collection, data interpretation; RM: study conception and design, literature search, manuscript review and corresponding author. MHS,RM: shall act as guarantor of the study.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rakesh Mondal.

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Habibulla, S.K.M., Bhowmik, A., Saha, J. et al. Electrocardiographic Parameters in Indian Newborns. Indian Pediatr 56, 917–922 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13312-019-1647-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13312-019-1647-7

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