Prevalence of ventricular preexcitation in Japanese schoolchildren

Abstract

Background-WolV-Parkinson-White syndrome is thought to be a congenital disease, however, its exact prevalence is not known. This may be because of the intermittent activity of accessory pathways in some cases and fluctuations in autonomic tone. Aims-To investigate the prevalence of ventricular preexcitation by electrocardiography and reported symptoms in each school age child in Yamanashi prefecture. Methods-From 1994 to 1996, answers to a questionnaire, results of physical examination, and electrocardiography were obtained from all schoolchildren in Yamanashi prefecture (n = 92 161; total population 880 000) on admission to elementary school (age 6 to 7 years, n = 28 395), junior high school (age 12 to 13 years, n = 31 206), and high school (age 14 to 15 years, n = 32 837). Results-Elementary and junior high school students had a significantly lower prevalence of preexcitation than high school students (0.073% and 0.070% v 0.174%, p < 0.001). The prevalence of left free wall pathway was highest in high school students (n = 27) compared with elementary (n = 6) and junior high school students (n = 5) (p < 0.005). The only symptom noted in the answers to the questionnaire was palpitations. The symptomatic cases were more frequent in high school (n = 13) than in elementary (n = 1) and junior high school (n = 2) children, but not significantly. No student with preexcitation had associated heart disease or family history of WolVParkinson-White syndrome or sudden death. Conclusions-The prevalence of preexcitation in younger schoolchildren was less frequent than previously reported. The prevalence of preexcitation and left free wall pathways increased with age. The symptoms were few and there was no significant morbidity.

Cardiovascular Monitoring of Children and Adolescents With Heart Disease Receiving Medications for Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

“…62 In another study from 1994 to 1996, 0.1% of Japanese schoolchildren (100 of 92 000) were identified as having WPW. 63 …”

Accessory Atrioventricular Myocardial Connections in the Developing Human Heart

“…The majority of APs conduct antegradely, as seen in patients with WolffParkinson-White (WPW) syndrome (OMIM No. 194200; incidence in general population 1.5 per 1000 persons 25 ; the prevalence of WPW syndrome in children under 13 years of age is lower, at 0.07% 26 ). In adults, 25% of APs involved in AVRT are concealed, which indicates that they only have retrograde conducting properties.…”

Thrombosis of a mitral valve prosthesis

“…5 The increased frequency in males is in accordance with previous reports 3 5 10 ; however, Sano et al recently reported a 1:1 male to female ratio in Japanese schoolchildren with ventricular pre-excitation. 11 The highest incidence in female subjects in our study was during the seventh decade (fig 1). Interestingly this peak [22][23][24][25][26]1998), we cannot exclude the possibility that women's access to health care is less or later in their life than men's.…”