Electrocardiogram in asthmatic children

Electrocardiograms of 137 asthmatic children, 5 to 16 years in age, were compared with findings in normal children. The following deviations from normal were found: lower voltage and longer duration of P waves in all leads; lower voltage of R waves in all precordial leads and almost all limb and unipolar leads; deeper S waves over left precordial leads; slight delay of intrinsicoid deflection in right precordial leads, but no difference in left precordial leads; somewhat increased duration of QRS complexes; increased heart rate in the older age groups, but no differences in P-R and Q-T intervals; predominantly vertical electrocardiographic position of the heart. These observations provide further electro-cardiographic evidence that asthmatic children, compared with normal children of the same age range, show a tendency toward right ventricular hypertrophy and hyperinflated lungs.