Kunigeliene, R.; Kinciniene, O.; Usonis, V.; Lesinskiene, S. The Relationship between Depression Symptoms and Physical Activity in Children with Idiopathic Ventricular Extrasystoles. Medicina2024, 60, 213.
Kunigeliene, R.; Kinciniene, O.; Usonis, V.; Lesinskiene, S. The Relationship between Depression Symptoms and Physical Activity in Children with Idiopathic Ventricular Extrasystoles. Medicina 2024, 60, 213.
Kunigeliene, R.; Kinciniene, O.; Usonis, V.; Lesinskiene, S. The Relationship between Depression Symptoms and Physical Activity in Children with Idiopathic Ventricular Extrasystoles. Medicina2024, 60, 213.
Kunigeliene, R.; Kinciniene, O.; Usonis, V.; Lesinskiene, S. The Relationship between Depression Symptoms and Physical Activity in Children with Idiopathic Ventricular Extrasystoles. Medicina 2024, 60, 213.
Abstract
Background and Objectives
Depression in childhood often co-occurs with anxiety disorders and a range of somatic symptoms. Recent studies have identified physical activity as a target for preventing the onset of depression. Idiopathic ventricular extrasystoles (VE) in children are sometimes associated with somatic symptoms and limitations in physical activity. The problem of arrhythmia existence can also be distressing for children and their parents. The study was conducted to determine the relationship between symptoms of depression, physical activity and somatic symptoms in children with idiopathic VE.
Materials and Methods
The study of children with structurally normal hearts and VE was approved by the Ethics Committee No. 2021/10-1383˗859(1). The authors developed Questionnaire to assess symptoms, physical activity, and general well-being. Symptoms of depression evaluated with modified pediatric PHQ-9 (MP-PHQ-9) questionnaire with the interpretation of 0-4 scores for none; 5-9 mild; 10-14 moderate; >15 severe depression. Children aged ≥12 years and parents who assessed their children's condition completed Questionnaires. All children underwent 24-hour electrocardiography and echocardiography to evaluate arrhythmia frequency and cardiac condition.
Results
Questionnaires were completed by 60 children’s parents and 39 children (≥12 years old). Median children’s age was 13 (5-17) years. Palpitations experienced 26 (43.3%), chest pain 13 (21.7%), exercise intolerance 15 (25%) children. All patients had normal ventricular function and hemodynamically normal hearts. The median score of the MP-PHQ-9 completed by parents was 2 (0-16); by children - 4 (0-18). The median VE frequency was 4,77 (0,1-32,77) % per 24 hours. Extra-sports participation had 31 (51.7%) children with a median time of 3.75 (0.75-25) hours/ week. Eleven-patients were suspended from sports. There was no significant difference between VE frequency, and MP-PHQ-9 scores. Higher MP-PHQ-9 scores showed <5 hours/week active symptomatic children.
Conclusions
Idiopathic VE, limitations in physical activity and depression remain the actual theme for clinicians and need further research. Higher depression scores showed patients with somatic symptoms.
Keywords
depression; idiopathic ventricular extrasystoles; children
Subject
Medicine and Pharmacology, Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
