Assessment of QTc Interval in Children with Nephrotic Syndrome

Background: Nephrotic syndrome, characterized by glomerular damage, primarily affects children. While renal symptoms have been extensively studied, there is growing concern about cardiac complications, particularly the prolongation of the QTc interval, which can increase the risk of ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. This study aimed to assess the QTc interval in children diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome and explore the factors affecting QTc prolongation. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 42 children aged 2-10 years diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome in Mashhad from 2019 to 2020. Data on age, gender, and blood samples to measure the levels of albumin, calcium, and magnesium were taken. Electrocardiograms were used to measure QTc intervals, which were calculated using Bazett's formula. Statistical analyses were performed to determine the relationships between QTc intervals and various clinical parameters. Results: The mean age of participants was 77.54 ± 31.34 months, with 66.7% male and 33.3% female. The mean QTc interval was 0.449 ± 0.053 seconds, with 52.4% of participants exhibiting prolonged QTc intervals. There was no significant difference in QTc interval based on age, duration of disease, albumin, calcium, or magnesium levels. However, females had a significantly higher mean QTc interval compared to males (0.460 s vs. 0.440 s). Conclusion: A significant proportion of pediatric patients with nephrotic syndrome exhibited prolonged QTc intervals. While QTc prolongation was not associated with age, duration of disease, or levels of albumin, calcium, and magnesium, it was significantly higher in females. These results underscore the importance of QTc interval monitoring in children with nephrotic syndrome, particularly among female patients.