PhD Scientific Days 2025

Poster Session III. - V: Cardiovascular Medicine and Research

Effect of physical activity, metabolic syndrome and social status on ECG parameters in children – a prospective cohort study

Name of the presenter

Kézdi Árpád

Institute/workplace of the presenter

Internal Medicine and Oncology

Authors

Dr. Kézdi Árpád¹, Dr. Horváth J. Viktor², Dr. Fekete Ferenc³, Dr. Nagy Anikó³

1: Semmelweis University, Internal Medicine and Oncology
2: Internal Medicine and Oncology
3: Heim Pál Hospital, Budapest

Text of the abstract

Introduction: ECG is a widely used non-invasive method to estimate cardiac electrical integrity and its alteration may refers to physical and metabolic status. Increased physical activity improves metabolic parameters and reduce metabolic syndrome prevalence in children. On the other hand, children from families of low socio-economical status have a higher risk of developing metabolic syndrome. However, the direct comparison of physical activity, and socio-economical status on ECG parameters in children with or without metabolic syndrome has not yet been investigated.

Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of socio-economical status and physical activity on different resting ECG parameters in children with or without metabolic syndrome.

Method: N=127 participants (54 male), aged 10-17 years recruited for the study. After measuring waist circumference and blood pressure and taking blood samples, resting 1 minute 12 leads ECG was recorded in lying position. Socio-economical status and physical activity were estimated by a questionnaire. Association of these factors with ECG parameters was analysed by ANCOVA statistical approach.

Results: Age, sex, metabolic syndrome, and sport activity have impact on average RR interval (Eta-square 0.201, 0.093, 0.103 and 0.09, respectively; all are significant) and similar effects were seen on Tend–P intervals. QRS was not altered by any investigated factor. PR was altered only by age (Eta-square: 0.061), QTc was altered by age and sex (Eta-square: 0.131 and 0.079 respectively). Metabolic syndrome has moderate, but significant effect on Tpeak-Tend interval (Eta-square: 0.05). Socio-economical status was not a significant factor in determining resting ECG parameters.

Conclusions: Physical activity has similar effect on ECG parameters in both genders. Metabolic syndrome is an independent determinant of different ECG parameters and physical activity may have beneficial effect on both children with or without metabolic syndrome. This later statement requires further reinforcement incorporating more participants in the study.

Funding: not applicable.