Pediatric Arrhythmia Management in Congenital Heart Disease (CHD): A 20-Year Epidemiologic Study and Therapeutic Insights at Imam-Reza Hospital (2001-2020)

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Pediatric and Congenital Cardiology Division, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

2 Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

3 Department of Cardiac Surgery, Imam Reza Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

4 Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

5 Pediatric and Congenital Cardiology Division, Department of Pediatrics, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

6 Department of Extra-Corporeal Circulation (ECC), Razavi Hospital, Imam Reza International University, Mashhad, Iran

Abstract

Background: Arrhythmia in children with congenital heart disease (CHD) can be due to abnormal anatomy, genetic mutations, hemodynamic abnormalities, primary myocardial disease, hypoxic tissue damage, or postoperative complications.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the epidemiological findings of children with various arrhythmias and their treatment outcomes.

Methods: The study was cross-sectional. The data were derived from 762 patients with arrhythmias, including tachyarrhythmias, bradyarrhythmias, and premature beats. The patient's demographic and clinical information, as well as their electrocardiogram (ECG), Holter monitor, echocardiography, and electrophysiology results, were collected and analyzed using SPSS software.

Results: The study found that 44.6% of the patients were female and 55.4% were male. The mean age of patients with tachyarrhythmias was 5.9 years, while those with bradyarrhythmias were 10 years old, and those with premature beats were 6.5 years old. The most common symptoms were palpitations, murmur, and slow pulse. The most common arrhythmias were supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) and premature atrial contractions (PACs).

Conclusion: The study revealed that cardiac abnormalities, including septal defects and valve abnormalities, were prevalent in patients with arrhythmias. Cardiomyopathy was associated with a higher risk of mortality. The study's findings emphasize the importance of paying attention to the presence of accompanying anomalies, palpitations, abnormal heart sounds, or bradycardia during the examination, as these are associated with an increased risk of mortality.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Acknowledgments: We thank the Pediatric and Congenital Cardiology Division, Department of Pediatrics, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

 

Availability of data and materials: The dataset presented in the study is available on request from the corresponding author during submission or after its publication.

 

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

 

Consent for publication: Not applicable

 

Ethics approval and consent to participate: The Mashhad University of Medical Sciences ethics committee approved the study protocol with the number of IR.MUMS.REC.1399.493, which complies with the Declaration of Helsinki.

 

Financial disclosure: None.

 

Author contributions: H. M. M. S, M. T, and F. R: Contributed to the conception of the work, revising the draft, approving the final version of the manuscript, and agreeing on all aspects of the work; S. S, and S. Y: contributed to the critical revision, and approval of the final version of the manuscript; M. A. T, and M. H. M, Contributed to the conception and design of the study, critical revision, and approval of the manuscript's final version; N. S. M. Z, and M.Y., Contributed to the conception and design of the study, drafting of the manuscript and critical revision, and approval of final version.

 

Open Access Policy: This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. To view a copy of this licence, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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Razavi Journal of Medicine

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 10 August 2025

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