Long-term effects of permanent pacemaker therapy on growth in children with complete heart block.

OBJECTIVES: Complete heart block (CHB) is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition in childhood. A permanent pacemaker (PM) can provide a physiologically appropriate heart rate under defined criteria. It is known that normal cardiac function plays an important role in growth, which is the main indicator of health in childhood. While a holistic health approach is increasingly emphasized, there are limited data in the literature evaluating long-term growth in pediatric patients with a PM. This study aimed to assess the impact of PM implantation on growth in children with CHB. METHODS: This study included 25 pediatric patients (11 girls, 14 boys) aged 2-16 years with CHB who underwent PM implantation. Anthropometric measurements, including height, weight, and body mass index (BMI), were recorded pre-implantation and at follow-up, continuing until age 18. Z scores adjusted for age and gender were calculated and compared between baseline and final follow-up. RESULTS: The mean follow-up duration was 7.65 ± 2.79 years. Statistically significant increases were observed in weight and BMI Z scores post-implantation (p < 0.05). Although height Z scores also showed an upward trend, the change did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSION: Permanent PM implantation in children with CHB is associated with significant improvements in weight and BMI over the long term, indicating a positive influence on overall growth. While height gains were less marked, the findings suggest that improved cardiac function post-implantation supports better growth trajectories. These results underscore the importance of timely PM implantation, with favorable growth outcomes observed over long-term follow-up in pediatric patients with CHB.