Scalar, planar, and spatial measurements of the Frank vectorcardiogram in normal infants and children.

Frank-lead vectorcardiograms (VCGs) were obtained from 1222 normal infants and children. By means of the Pipberger computer system, 176 different scaler and vector measurements obtained from each VCG were correlated with height, weight, race, sex, torso length, chest circumference, and chest diameters to determine the effect of anthropometric indices on the VCG wave forms. Because 5509 tests of statistical significance were performed, correlation coefficients and tests of statistical significance are reported only with p less than 0.001. Height, weight, torso length, and chest circumference show good correlation with QT interval, but these findings are reflective of the decrease in heart rate with age. The VCG does not show consistent correlations with constitutional variables when stratified by age, sex, or race. There were six instances of VCG parameters significantly greater in black children, and four instances of VCG parameters significantly greater in white children. All racial differences, while statistically significant, are small by clinical, hand measurement standards. There were 22 VCG values in boys which exceeded those in girls and only one VCG value in girls which exceeded those in boys. In the pediatric age group, racial differences in VCG wave forms are small and clinically insignificant. The Frank-lead system adequately corrects for constitutional variables in infants and children. Adequate evaluation of pediatric VCGs requires stratification of data according to age and sex.