Effect of Physical Activity, Metabolic Syndrome and Social Status on ECG Parameters in Children–A Prospective Cohort Study

(1) Background: Physical activity, altered metabolic parameters and socio-economic status potentially have detectable effect on ECG in children, but the direct comparison of their effect on resting ECG has not yet been evaluated. (2) Methods: N=139 participants (60 male), aged 10-17 years were recruited. Resting 1 minute ECG, clinical and laboratory investigations were completed; socio-economic status and physical activity duration were estimated by a questionnaire. Association of these factors with ECG parameters was analysed by ANCOVA statistical approach. (3) Results: Age, sex, metabolic syndrome, and physical activity have an impact on average RR interval (Eta-square 0.292, 0.07, 0.078 and 0.07, respectively; all are significant) and similar effects were seen on Tend–P intervals. PR, QRS, QTc and Tpeak-to-Tend are influenced moderately by age (Eta-square: 0.084, 0,056, 0,072, 0.0.049, respectively; all are significant). QTc was further altered by sex (Eta-square: 0.06). None of the modifiable factors had any effect on depolarisation and repolarisation parameters. Socio-economic status has no significant effect on resting ECG. (4) Conclusions: Physical activity has a similar effect on resting ECG in both genders. Metabolic syndrome is an independent determinant of different ECG parameters. Further studies are required to evaluate the importance of these findings.