Arrhythmias & electrophysiologyCohort study
The Wolff–Parkinson–White pattern in neonates: results from a large population-based cohort study
- Population-based cohort study
- prospective
- matched 1:4 to controls
Authors' conclusion
The prevalence of a WPW pattern in our cohort of unselected neonates was 0.1%. The WPW pattern was more frequent in boys and generally not associated with structural heart disease, and the accessory pathways were primarily left-sided. At follow-up, the WPW pattern had disappeared in most of the children suggesting either an intermittent nature or that normalization occurs.
Study context
- Population
- Unselected neonates (aged 0–30 days) with ECG and echocardiogram
- Participants
- 17,489 neonates
- Outcome
- Prevalence of a WPW pattern
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Neonates with a wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) pattern
17
Prevalence
0.1%
Boys among WPW cases
76%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Echocardiographic parameters, cases vs controls
- Moderate mitral regurgitation
- One neonate
- Other echocardiographic parameters similar between cases and controls
- all P > 0.05
Accessory pathway localisation
- Accessory pathways primarily predicted to be left-sided
Natural history at follow-up · mean age 3.2 years
- Follow-up available
- 14/17
- Pre-excitation pattern persisted
- 4
- Episodes of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT)
- 0
Original publication
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it