Factors affecting mortality in children with dilated cardiomyopathy

Özet

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCMP) is a heart disease with high mortality ratesthat is often seen in children. Genetic and infectious reasons are primary inthe etiology. The aim of this study was to investigate the etiology of DCMPand the parameters predicting mortality. A retrospective examination wasmade of 37 patients diagnosed with DCMP between January 2012 and October2016. Data were recorded from the patient files of age, gender, complaintson presentation, findings of the physical examination, laboratory test results,echocardiography and electrocardiography findings at the time of diagnosis.These parameters were then compared between the surviving and nonsurviving patients.The patients comprised 21 males with a mean age of 27.50±50 months.Diagnosis was made at the age of <12 months in 67.6% patients. Within mean8 months of diagnosis, 16.2% of the patients were lost to mortality and 83.8%of the patients survived. In 83.3% of the non-surviving patients and in 29% ofthe surviving patients, sinus tachycardia was present at the time of diagnosis(p=0.023). Corrected QT (QTc) at the time of diagnosis was longer in thenon-surviving patients (p=0.007). On ECG, the rate of ST-T wave change washigher in the non-surviving patients (80% vs. 17.8%, p=0.012).In conclusion, a significant proportion of the patients were diagnosed belowthe age of one year. In the non-surviving patients, as sinus tachycardia andischaemic changes on ECG were seen more often and the QTc was longer,these findings could be considered to be predictors of mortality.