The determinants of positivisation of anterior T-wave inversion in children.

Background Anterior T-wave inversion (aTWI) can be a common electrical sign in cardiomyopathies but also a benign feature regressing with age in healthy children. Unfortunately, little is known about the age of positivisation of aTWI and its determinants in children and longitudinal data are not available. The aim of this longitudinal study was to identify the age and determinants of positivisation of aTWI in healthy children. Methods ATWI was observed in 331 healthy children. They were evaluated yearly until positivisation for a maximum period of 4 years. Positivisation of aTWI was observed in 312 children (94%). The weight, height/length and their respective percentiles at birth and at the time of positivisation of aTWI and weeks of gestation at birth were collected. Results Positivisation of aTWI occurred at a mean age of 13.0±2.0 years. When aTWI became positive, the majority of children had a height between 51° and 75° or over the 75° percentile. At the multivariate logistic regression analysis height, weight, percentiles of height and weight at the time of positivisation were identified as the strongest independent predictors of the positivisation of aTWI. No correlation was found for prematurity and anthropometrics characteristics at birth. Conclusions ATWI is a common feature of pediatric ECG, usually regressing with age. Height, weight, percentiles of height and weight at the time of positivisation were identified as determinants of TWI positivisation. These simple anthropometric characteristics should be used in addition to chronological age in order to interpret aTWI in children.