Systolic time intervals in anemic children with or without congestive heart failure

Systolic time intervals (STI) were measured from simultaneous high speed recordings of electrocardiogram, phonocardiogram, and carotid artery trace in 47 children of anemia with or without congestive heart failure (CHF), and in 20 healthy normal children. Group I comprised 20 healthy controls with a mean Hb level of 13.65±0.73 gm percent, group II of 37 anemic children with a mean Hb level of 7.3±1.01 gm percent, without any evidence of CHF: Group III of 10 severely anaemic children with a mean Hb level of 2.75±0.82 gm percent with overt CHF. Electromechanical systole (QS2) pre-ejection period (PEP), left ventricular ejection time (LVET) and the ratio of PEP/LVET were studied and compared in various groups. PEP/LVET ratio was found to be 0.265±0.04, 0.363±0.07 and 0.407±0.06 in groups I, II, III cases respectively. The mean PEP/LVET ratio was significantly prolonged in groups II and III when compared with group I (p<.001). Further mean PEP/LVET ratio was significantly greater in group III subjects when compared with group II patients (p<.001). Thus it seems that LV dysfunction sets in early in cases of anemic children and as the severity of anemia increases. left ventricular dysfunction proportionately increases, ultimately resulting in congestive heart failure.