Holter Monitor Rhythm Parameters in Healthy Infants, Children, and Adolescents: Defining Reference Limits With Meta‐Analysis

Background Ambulatory electrocardiography has been in clinical use for 5 decades. However, reference limits for rhythm parameters in healthy infants, children, and adolescents have not been adequately defined. We sought to determine these reference ranges using meta‐analysis of existing published st...

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Main Authors: James J. Joyce, Soujanya Bogarapu, Collins Odhiambo, Sunita J. Ferns, Harold L. Kennedy
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-06-01
Series:Journal of the American Heart Association: Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease
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Online Access:https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.124.039783
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author James J. Joyce
Soujanya Bogarapu
Collins Odhiambo
Sunita J. Ferns
Harold L. Kennedy
author_facet James J. Joyce
Soujanya Bogarapu
Collins Odhiambo
Sunita J. Ferns
Harold L. Kennedy
author_sort James J. Joyce
collection DOAJ
description Background Ambulatory electrocardiography has been in clinical use for 5 decades. However, reference limits for rhythm parameters in healthy infants, children, and adolescents have not been adequately defined. We sought to determine these reference ranges using meta‐analysis of existing published studies of 24‐hour Holter monitoring in healthy pediatric populations. Methods Multiple literature databases were searched from 1969 to May 2024 for relevant studies. Data extraction and analysis were completed according to the Meta‐Analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines. The prevalence of cardiac ectopy and conduction delays along with mean±SD of heart rates were obtained and grouped by the following age ranges: neonates (birth to 4 weeks), older infants (1–12 months), younger children (1–6 years), older children (7–12 years), and adolescents (13–18 years). Ninety‐five percent reference ranges for all rhythm variables were estimated in each age group. Results Forty‐five studies including 3886 participants were identified and analyzed. Minimum, average, and maximum heart rates during Holter monitoring decreased with age as expected. Prevalence of transient first‐degree atrioventricular block and Wenckebach second‐degree atrioventricular block increased with age to around 14% in adolescence. Prevalence rates for any premature atrial complexes and premature ventricular complexes were also highest in adolescence at 50% and 29%, respectively. The upper limits for the number of premature atrial complexes per day were 150 in infants and 50 in the older age groups and for premature ventricular complexes were 50 in all age groups. Conclusions Holter monitor age‐related reference limits for healthy infants, children, and adolescents are proposed.
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spelling doaj-art-de6027b282da44b4be282c6fdbe9c2612025-08-20T03:14:58ZengWileyJournal of the American Heart Association: Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease2047-99802025-06-01141110.1161/JAHA.124.039783Holter Monitor Rhythm Parameters in Healthy Infants, Children, and Adolescents: Defining Reference Limits With Meta‐AnalysisJames J. Joyce0Soujanya Bogarapu1Collins Odhiambo2Sunita J. Ferns3Harold L. Kennedy4Jacksonville Pediatric and Adult Congenital Cardiology Jacksonville FL USADivision of Pediatric Cardiology University of Illinois College of Medicine‐Peoria Peoria IL USADepartment of Pediatrics University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria IL USADivision of Pediatric Cardiology University of Illinois College of Medicine‐Peoria Peoria IL USAThe Cardiovascular Research Foundation St. Louis MO USABackground Ambulatory electrocardiography has been in clinical use for 5 decades. However, reference limits for rhythm parameters in healthy infants, children, and adolescents have not been adequately defined. We sought to determine these reference ranges using meta‐analysis of existing published studies of 24‐hour Holter monitoring in healthy pediatric populations. Methods Multiple literature databases were searched from 1969 to May 2024 for relevant studies. Data extraction and analysis were completed according to the Meta‐Analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines. The prevalence of cardiac ectopy and conduction delays along with mean±SD of heart rates were obtained and grouped by the following age ranges: neonates (birth to 4 weeks), older infants (1–12 months), younger children (1–6 years), older children (7–12 years), and adolescents (13–18 years). Ninety‐five percent reference ranges for all rhythm variables were estimated in each age group. Results Forty‐five studies including 3886 participants were identified and analyzed. Minimum, average, and maximum heart rates during Holter monitoring decreased with age as expected. Prevalence of transient first‐degree atrioventricular block and Wenckebach second‐degree atrioventricular block increased with age to around 14% in adolescence. Prevalence rates for any premature atrial complexes and premature ventricular complexes were also highest in adolescence at 50% and 29%, respectively. The upper limits for the number of premature atrial complexes per day were 150 in infants and 50 in the older age groups and for premature ventricular complexes were 50 in all age groups. Conclusions Holter monitor age‐related reference limits for healthy infants, children, and adolescents are proposed.https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.124.039783cardiac rhythmHolter monitorreference range
spellingShingle James J. Joyce
Soujanya Bogarapu
Collins Odhiambo
Sunita J. Ferns
Harold L. Kennedy
Holter Monitor Rhythm Parameters in Healthy Infants, Children, and Adolescents: Defining Reference Limits With Meta‐Analysis
Journal of the American Heart Association: Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease
cardiac rhythm
Holter monitor
reference range
title Holter Monitor Rhythm Parameters in Healthy Infants, Children, and Adolescents: Defining Reference Limits With Meta‐Analysis
title_full Holter Monitor Rhythm Parameters in Healthy Infants, Children, and Adolescents: Defining Reference Limits With Meta‐Analysis
title_fullStr Holter Monitor Rhythm Parameters in Healthy Infants, Children, and Adolescents: Defining Reference Limits With Meta‐Analysis
title_full_unstemmed Holter Monitor Rhythm Parameters in Healthy Infants, Children, and Adolescents: Defining Reference Limits With Meta‐Analysis
title_short Holter Monitor Rhythm Parameters in Healthy Infants, Children, and Adolescents: Defining Reference Limits With Meta‐Analysis
title_sort holter monitor rhythm parameters in healthy infants children and adolescents defining reference limits with meta analysis
topic cardiac rhythm
Holter monitor
reference range
url https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.124.039783
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