Should Infants’ Hearts be Screened?

New research conducted at the University of Pavia has brought to light some important results – hundreds of infant lives could be saved each year if routine screening of babies’ hearts was made compulsory.

A study was conducted on more than 45,000 infants by scientists at the University of Pavia before arriving at this conclusion. Based on their research findings, the researchers are now calling upon all European healthcare agencies and specialists to make Electro Cardio Graphic (ECG) screening compulsory for all newborns between three to four weeks of age.

In study findings published in the European Heart Journal, researchers have claimed such screenings could easily help determine if children are born with long QT syndrome – a life threatening condition. Compared to the importance of knowing about this condition, the cost of the screening generally turns out to be negligible.

Long QT syndrome is an electrical disorder of the heart that despite producing almost no symptoms proves to be nearly always fatal if it goes undetected. Almost all deaths caused by this syndrome are wrongly diagnosed as sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

“Our study clearly demonstrates neonatal ECG screening is highly cost-effective and a significant number of lives can be saved – possibly up to 230-250 a year, for example, in the 15 countries of the pre-enlarged EU – for an objectively small cost,” said Professor Schwartz, lead author of the study and Chairman of the Department of Cardiology at the University of Pavia.

“The time is ripe for those involved in the administration of public health to consider the implementation by the National Health Services of such a program, with the objective of reducing the number of preventable sudden cardiac deaths in infants, children and young adults,” Professor Schwartz added.

Contradicting the research findings and the claims of the study team, the UK Department of Health on the other hand drew attention to parallel studies conducted by the UK National Screening Committee (NSC). These studies found there is not enough evidence available such screenings help detect abnormal heart conditions in children and young adults.

“A new chapter of the National Service Framework for Chronic Heart Disease requires all NHS services identify people at risk, for example where a close family member has suffered a sudden cardiac death,” a Department of Health spokesman said.

“Doctors are then expected to provide expert support, diagnosis, treatment and advice. Where appropriate this would include the screening of relatives, including children and young adults. The NSC will keep this situation under review, taking new evidence into account – including the recent study from Italy,” the spokesman said.

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