First Evaluation of P Dispersion and Tp-e Parameters in Electrocardiograms of Children with Diabetic Ketoacidosis.

Background Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is an important complication of type-1 diabetes mellitus. We aimed to evaluate effects of metabolic disorders of DKA on electrocardiography (ECG) parameters in children. Methods This study was performed between December 2018 and March 2020 and included 39 children with DKA and 40 healthy children. Three ECGs (one before and two after treatment) were obtained from the patient group. P-wave dispersion (Pd), QT dispersion (QTd), QTc dispersion (QTcd), Tp-e intervals, and the ratios of Tp-e/QT and Tp-e/QTc were measured electrocardiographically. For statistical analysis, SPSS-22 program was used. P value less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results The mean age of patient group was 10.50±4.12 years. There was no significant difference in terms of age, gender, weight, height and body mass index between the groups. In patient group, statistically significant increase was found in terms of Pd, QTd and QTcd in first ECGs compared to second and third ECGs. Also, when the first and third ECGs were compared, a significant increase in Tp-e and Tp-e/QT was added. It was noteworthy that a significant increase in the values of Pd, QTd, QTcd, Tp-e and Tp-e/QT in the first ECGs, obtained before DKA treatment, was detected compared to control group ECGs. Conclusions This is the first article evaluating Pd and Tp-e parameters of children with DKA. In this study, cardiac arrhythmia risk markers were detected to be increased in children with DKA. Therefore, clinicians should be careful about the possibility of development of new arrhythmias during DKA treatment.