The frequency of arrhythmias in COVID-19 patients, a study in the Shahid Mostafa Khomeini Hospital of Ilam from March to August 2020

Abstract

Introduction Cardiac arrhythmias are important causes of death among populations and always responsible for a high percentage of mortality in hospitalized patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of arrhythmias in COVID-19 patients in the Shahid Mostafa Khomeini Hospital of Ilam from March to August 2020. Materials and Methods In this descriptive-analytical study, all the COVID-19 patients with a cardiac condition admitted to the intensive care unit were enrolled by census. Electrocardiography (ECG) and Holter monitoring were used to diagnose arrhythmias. Data analysis was performed in Microsoft Excel using descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage). Results The total number of eligible patients was 45, of whom 26 (57.8%) were men, and 19 (42.2%) were women. The mortality rate of arrhythmias among COVID-19 patients was 17.77% (8 out of 45 patients), and the recovery rate was 82.13% (37 out of 45 patients). Conclusion Tachycardia and the lack of response to heart rate reducing drug be observed in patients with COVID-19.Owing to an overlap between these symptoms and those of heart diseases, there is a need to further evaluate patients with arrhythmias. Although arrhythmias are not common in COVID-19 patients, they can be fatal and inflict a high mortality rate, which can be prevented by early detection.

COVID-19 HEART unveiling as atrial fibrillation: pathophysiology, management and future directions for research

“…Recently, a patient with protracted COVID-19 infection that presented with chest pain, palpitations and shortness of breath was found to have PVC bigeminy and elimination of these with catheter ablation resulted in successful clinical outcomes [ 93 ]. In a prospective analysis performed in Shahid Mostafa Khomeini Hospital of Ilam in Iran from March to August, 2020, it was revealed that A-Fib and PVC (20%) are the most common arrhythmias followed by VT (4.44%) and VF (2.22%) [ 94 ]. In a worldwide retrospective analysis of hospitalized COVID-19 patients, atrial fibrillation, NSVT, VT and VF occurred in 62%, 9.2%, 8.2% and 4% of these cases, respectively [ 95 ].…”

Intermittent Silent Coronary Spasm with Variant Premature Ventricular Contractions, and QRS-Complex Fragmentation in COVID-19 Pneumonia with Stroke and Pleural Effusion; Serious Risk but a Good Outcome

“…Although arrhythmias are uncommon in COVID-19 patients, they can be lethal which can be prevented by prompt recognition [4]. Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are a type of arrhythmia described as premature heart contractions and early depolarization of the myocardium originating in one of both ventricles due to an electrical impulse or ectopic rhythm from any part of the ventricles before the sinoatrial impulse has reached the ventricles [5].…”