Check Your Beat Kids’ Day: Connecticut Organizations Raise Awareness for Long QT Syndrome

Starting from the left, Dr. Irfan Warsy (cardiologist), Dr. Robyn Matloff (nephrologist), Arjun Atluri, and Mark Greenfield (co-founder of Hearts in Harmony Foundation) take a photo at the Check Your Beat Kids' Day at Connecticut Children's.

Last month, during National Heart Month, Connecticut Children’s Foundation and Hearts in Harmony Foundation host the annual Check Your Beat Kids’ Day Connecticut Children’s Specialty Care Center in Westport, CT. Held on February 8th, the event raised awareness for Long QT Syndrome (LQTS), a rare, genetic heart rhythm disorder/condition that can be found in kids.

An Important Cause

Kira and Mark Greenfield founded Hearts in Harmony Foundation in 2022 following their daughter’s diagnosis of LQTS. The organization raises awareness of the condition and raises funds to help find better treatments and a cure. During my conversation with Kira Greenfield, President of Hearts in Harmony, she shared more about the importance of the event: “The idea behind starting Check Your Beat Kids’ Day event is to partner with Connecticut Children’s Foundation to raise awareness and get as many kids as possible screened for LQTS because early detection is important.”

The event had free EKG screenings for participating children and other fun activities such as face painting, glitter tattoos, crafty kids, cotton candy, treats, candy wagon, food, fashion show, DJ, and Freeze Dance. Dr. Robyn Matloff M.D, Pediatric Nephrologist and Assistant VP for Ambulatory Pediatrics and Community Development at Connecticut Children's said, “By partnering with community organizations, we have the greatest reach to help all over. We have 20 volunteers from Connecticut Children’s and we’re doing free EKG screenings for children 6 months and up.”

However, there were challenges Dr. Matloff’s team had to overcome to get her staff and machines on-site. She said, “Some of the challenges [we] faced were insurance, check-in, and how the EKGs get read. My partners, Matthew Farr, VP at Ambulatory Operations and Dianna Pategas, VP for Stewardship and Donor Relations, assisted in making this event happen.” Dr. Matloff hopes families know that they will take the very best care of their children at Connecticut Children’s and are always willing to work with local organizations, schools, and communities to advocate for kids' health.

What is Long QT Syndrome (LQTS)?

LQTS is a rare heart rhythm disorder that affects the heart’s natural rhythm and can disrupt the electrical system. The condition is often undiagnosed and can be found in 1 in 2,000 children. This is why early detection is so important. To help spread awareness of this, Check Your Beat Kids’ Day offered free EKG screenings which are quick and painless tests that record the heart’s electrical activity.

Dr. Irfan Warsy, M.D, Pediatric Cardiologist and Electrophysiologist at Connecticut Children’s was part of the event and when asked about the importance of LQTS awareness in kids and adults, stated, “It is the type of disease that is treatable if diagnosed early. When optimally managed, kids can participate in sports and can be active.”

He also emphasized the importance of being aware of the warning signs of LQTS and the need for children to have knowledge about basic life saving techniques and CPR. “EKG screening is a very useful tool in saving many lives. As of now, it’s not done as a routine screening test in children.” Additionally, he stated that “Guiding children towards healthy eating and exercise from a very young age can promote healthy choices later in their lives when they’re more prone to heart diseases.”