Background: Along with the primary damage to the respiratory system, coronavirus disease (COVID-19) affects the cardiovascular system, which is thus involved in the pathological process. However, in the available literature, analyses of electrocardiographic (ECG) findings are based only on small-sample studies and case reports, which determines the relevance of larger-scale studies to clarify the nature and prevalence of ECG abnormalities in subjects with confirmed coronavirus infection.
Aim: To determine the distribution of ECG changes in 42,799COVID-19 patients representing a non-selective population of Moscow residents.
Materials and methods: From March10, 2020 to March10, 2021, a retrospective analysis of ECGs from 42,799patients with a verified diagnosis of COVID-19 was performed. The study included patients admitted to Moscow clinical hospitals connected to the ECG IT Center. A standard 12-lead ECG was obtained and then transmitted via an Internet connection to the server of the ECG IT Center where the ECG interpretation was performed.
Results: ECG changes were detected in 54% of patients. The most common cardiac arrhythmias were supraventricular extrasystole and atrial fibrillation reported in 12.6% and 12.0% of patients, respectively. Signs of overloaded right heart were detected in 12.5% of cases, of which the ECG pattern of pulmonary embolism was confirmed in 485patients (1,13%). Infarction ECG pattern was observed in 4.5% of subjects, among which 3cases of Brugada ECG pattern were reported. The incidence of ST-T changes was 2.2% of all study patients. Prolonged QT and QTc intervals were recorded in 540patients (1.26%). Individual cases of ventricular fibrillation, Frederick syndrome, and atrioventricular block of various degrees were reported.
Conclusion: Based on the data obtained, the distribution of incidence of ECG changes in COVID-19 was shown. The high incidence of atrial fibrillation, which is a risk factor for thromboembolic complications, was confirmed. At the same time, a significant prevalence of ECG patterns of overloaded right heart was shown, some of which are associated with pulmonary embolism. Other reported ECG changes were characterized by a significantly lower prevalence, which does not reduce their clinical significance. The data obtained may be used to improve COVID-19 patient management strategy in the future.