QT correction methods in children and adolescents

INTRODUCTION: Accurate determination of the QTc interval has become increasingly important in the assessment of a drug's ability to prolong cardiac repolarization. Previous work suggests the most appropriate correction formula for adults is QTc=QT/RR0.40, but little on correction methods for children and adolescents has been published. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this study, ECG data were obtained from a meta-analysis of seven clinical trials for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) involving 2,288 children and adolescents. The most appropriate formula for children and adolescents included in this database was found to be QTc=QT/RR0.38. Adjustments of the correction factor specifically for males and females of different ages also are reported. CONCLUSION: QT correction methods developed for adults do not apply to children. As accurate QTc determination plays a larger role in assessing a drug's potential to retard repolarization, use of age- and gender-specific correction formulas becomes more important.