Frequency of Hypoglycemia in Children With Beta-blocker Treated Long QT-syndrome

Frequency of Hypoglycemia in Children with Beta-Blocker Treated Long QT Syndrome

What is Long QT Syndrome (LQTS)? Long QT syndrome is a rare, inherited heart condition that can cause sudden fainting episodes and increases the risk of heart arrhythmias and sudden death. It is caused by genetic changes affecting the heart's ion channels, which control electrical activity. In Finland, about 1 in 2,000 people have LQTS.

Why Beta-Blockers? Children diagnosed with LQTS are put on beta-blocker medication (usually propranolol) as infants to prevent life-threatening arrhythmias. Beta-blockers are effective but can increase the risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), especially in young children.

Why Study Hypoglycemia? Hypoglycemia is a rare but potentially serious side effect of beta-blockers. Studies show that about 3% of children with LQTS on beta-blockers experience symptomatic hypoglycemia over five years, with the highest risk in young children. The most common symptom is a hypoglycemia-triggered seizure. It is not known how often mild or symptom-free low blood sugar occurs, which could affect a child's well-being and development if repeated.

Study Goals

The study aims to answer the following questions:

• How often do children with LQTS on beta-blockers experience low blood sugar, including asymptomatic episodes?
• Can dietary advice or the use of glucose monitoring devices help prevent hypoglycemic episodes?
• Are some children with LQTS more sensitive to hypoglycemia, and do genetic factors explain these differences?
• How many children with LQTS need emergency care or hospitalization due to hypoglycemia compared to healthy children?

Who Will Participate?

• 20-40 children under 7 years of age with genetically confirmed LQTS (types 1 or 2) and on beta-blocker medication.
• 10 healthy children (siblings of LQTS patients) as controls.

Children with diabetes, other metabolic diseases, tube feeding, certain medications, dialysis, or severe acute illness are excluded from the study.

Participation is voluntary. Parents are given informed consent, and children who are able are also given their own consent. Information is provided both verbally and in writing.

Study Methods Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) Each child will use a CGM device (Dexcom G7) for 10 days while the child is healthy, and again for 10 days during an infection (when risk of hypoglycemia is higher due to reduced eating). If a child has hypoglycemia and receives dietary advice, a third monitoring episode may be done.

Both LQTS patients and healthy controls undergo the same CGM.

What Happens During Monitoring? If the continous glucose monitor detects low glucose (<3.1 mmol/l), a finger-prick test is done to confirm the hypoglycemia. If low glucose level is confirmed, the child is given sugar containing food or drink. Breastfed infants receive breast milk. All measurements are recorded, and electronic data is stored on HUH secure servers.

Data is analyzed to compare average glucose levels, time spent with low or high glucose and number of finger-prick confirmed hypoglycemic episodes within the groups (healthy vs infection episode) and between groups (controls vs LQT1 and 2 patients).

Dietary Intervention Children with significant hypoglycemic episodes are referred to a dietitian. Dietitians may recommend adding slow-digesting carbohydrates (like whole grain bread) and uncooked cornstarch to the diet, especially at night or during illness, to help maintain stable glucose levels.

Genetic Analysis If some children are more sensitive to hypoglycemia, researchers will use data from the Helsinki biobank to look for genetic differences affecting insulin production and glucose metabolism.

Emergency Care Data Researchers will review records of emergency visits and hospitalizations due to hypoglycemia among LQTS patients under 16 and compare these to healthy controls.

Devices Used Dexcom G7 Glucose monitoring system

The Dexcom G7 CGM system reports continuous interstitial blood glucose concentrations every 5 minutes, does not require calibration, and involves only 1 needle stick to place the sensor. Dexcom G7 CGM system alerts for low glucose sensor readings. The manufacturer recommends that a single device may be used for up to 10 days. The Dexcom G7 system is CE-marked and FDA approved CGM system for children (age >2 years).

Risks and Benefits Risks Minor pain or discomfort from continuous glucose monitoring device placement or finger-prick tests.

Possible mild skin reactions to adhesive tape. Rare risk of infection or bleeding at the device site. For infants, continuous glucose monitoring readings may be less accurate due to thinner skin, but low readings are always confirmed with a finger-prick test.

Benefits Less painful than repeated finger-prick tests. Provides more complete data on glucose levels. If low glucose is detected, care can be adjusted to improve safety (diet changes, CGM use during illness or switching medications).

Participants receive a summary of their own glucose data if they wish.

Data Handling and Privacy Paper records are stored securely until 2041. Electronic data is stored on HUH secure servers, accessible only to the research team. CGM data is uploaded to a dedicated cloud account for the project.

Study Timeline and Funding Recruitment starts in autumn 2024 and ends by late 2026. Data collection continues until June 2027. Results will be analyzed by the end of 2027. The study is funded by the Pediatric Research Foundation (25,000 euros), with additional funding sought if needed.

Participation is free for families; no compensation is paid.

Reporting and Dissemination Results will be published in international peer-reviewed journals and shared through HUSH communications, social media, and Finnish medical publications.

A final report will be submitted to authorities within a year of study completion, including device details, methods, analysis, and critical evaluation.

Ethical Considerations The study follows ethical principles for medical research involving humans and complies with all relevant laws and guidelines. No extra laboratory tests or costs for participants. Written consent is obtained from parents and children who can write. If unexpected findings are discovered, participants are referred for proper care.

Why Is This Study Important? It will provide new information about the safety of beta-blocker treatment in children with LQTS. Identifying and preventing low blood glucose episodes can improve children's well-being and neurological development. Results may lead to better dietary advice, use of continuous glucose monitoring during illness, or changes in medication for high-risk children. The study aims to improve care and safety for children with LQTS, especially those most at risk.