Abstract
HIV is an important cause of childhood morbidity and mortality affecting more than 1.3 million children worldwide, one of the morbidity is cardiac abnormalities. Cardiovascular abnormalities are still subclinical during childhood then become symtomatic in adulthood. Electrocardiography is effective to detect cardiac diseases. This study aimed to assess ECG changes in HIV infected children and describe ECG abnormalities in HIV-infected children with or without HAART. From 70 subjects, we found the most common abnormality was sinus tachycardia in 17 patients (24.3%), sinus bradycardia 1 patient (1.4%) and 2 patients with sinus arrhythmia (2.9%). The mean QTc interval was 0.42 seconds (±0.07) and 14 patients (20%) had prolongation. The mean PR interval was 0.12 seconds (±0.02), 11 patients (15.7%) experienced prolongation of PR interval. The mean QRS duration was 0.06 seconds (±0.09). Left ventricular enlargement was present in 6 patients (8.6%), conduction disturbance which is characterized by Bundle branch block was found in 2 patients (2.9%) and ST changes was seen in 2 patients (2.9%). Other ECG abnormalities are characterized by right ventricle hyperthropy in 4 patients and a patient had T tall. The prevalence of cardiac abnormalities based on ECG examination from this study was 51.3%, consist of heart rhythm abnormality, prolonged PR interval, prolonged QTc interval, bundle branch block, ventricle hypertrophy and ST changes.
Highlights
HIV is an important cause of childhood morbidity and mortality affecting more than 1.3 million children worldwide [1]
Inclusion criteria are HIV infected children who were on HAART, age under 18 years old, complete ECG data
In this study we found sinus tachycardia in 17 patients (24.3%), which might be due to current febrile illness, anemia, myocarditis and increased metabolic demand in HIV patients
Summary
HIV is an important cause of childhood morbidity and mortality affecting more than 1.3 million children worldwide [1]. In 2011, around 33-36 million people live with HIV and about 0,8% is aged 15-49 years old [2]. Cardiac involvement may have diverse manifestations from initial asymptomatic presentation to overt heart failure and sudden death [4]. Cardiac abnormalities were directly responsible for death in 11.8% young children and the incidence increased up to 25% in children older than 10 years old [5]. Cardiac involvement may either be due to direct infection of cardiac myocytes or due to various opportunistic infections [6]. It may be due to prolong immune suppression, opportunistic infections, viral infections, autoimmune response, drug related cardiotoxicity and nutritional deficiencies [7]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
