Abstract
Aims Reference values of the P-wave on 12 lead electrocardiograms are lacking for children and adolescents in Eastern Europe. Hence, the present study is aimed at determining the standard values of the P-wave in children and adolescents based on ECG data from the CARDIOPED project, a large-scale general population of children who participated in a screening program in Transylvania, Romania. Methods and Results A total of 22,411 ECGs of participants aged 6 to 18 years old from a school-based ECG screening were obtained between February 2015 and December 2015 in Transylvania, Romania. Three pediatric cardiologists manually reviewed each ECG. P-wave duration, voltage, axis, and correlation with gender and age were analyzed. The mean P-wave duration was 88 ± 10.7 ms, with a maximum duration of 128 ms. P-wave showed a positive correlation with age but did not differ between sexes. There was a positive correlation between the P-wave duration and the heart rate, but not with the body max index. The mean P-wave axis was 40.4 ± 31.1, and the mean P-wave amplitude was 0.12 ± 0.03 mV. Conclusion In this study on many pediatric subjects, we have provided normal limits for the P-wave in Romanian children aged 6-18 years. Our findings are useful for creating interpretation guidelines for pediatric ECG.
Highlights
A correct interpretation of electrocardiograms in children relies on comparison with standard values derived from the normal population
Romania is a south-eastern country of Europe and a state member of the European Union
ECG interpretation depends on knowledge of normal limits, which in children are age-dependent
Summary
A correct interpretation of electrocardiograms in children relies on comparison with standard values derived from the normal population. Comprehensive data on ECG in Romania are lacking. No study to date explores P-wave characteristics in Eastern Europe and, in Romania. Romania is a south-eastern country of Europe and a state member of the European Union. Serbia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, and the Republic of Moldova. It covers 238,397 km and has 19.71 million inhabitants with a median age of 40.9 years. ECG interpretation depends on knowledge of normal limits, which in children are age-dependent. Diagnostic ECG criteria require the availability of appropriate normal references
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