Low prevalence of arrhythmias in clinically stable COVID‐19 patients

• DOI: 10.1111/pace.13987
• Publication Date: 2020-06-16T15:38:26Z
• Authors: Simone Sala; Giovanni Peretto; Giacomo De Luca; Nicola Farina; Corrado Campochiaro; Moreno Tresoldi; Lorenzo Dagna; Alberto Zangrillo; Simone Gulletta; Paolo Della Bella
• Keywords: Male; SARS-CoV-2; coronavirus; COVID-19; Arrhythmias, Cardiac; General Medicine; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Italy; Prevalence; Humans; atrial fibrillation; Female; Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine; arrhythmias; Pandemics; Aged

AbstractBackgroundNo studies investigated the prevalence of arrhythmias among clinically‐stable patients affected by COVID‐19 infection.MethodsWe assessed prevalence, type, and burden of arrhythmias, by a single‐day snapshot in seven non‐intensive COVID Units at a third‐level center.ResultsWe enrolled 132 inhospital patients (mean age 65±14y; 66% males) newly diagnosed with COVID‐19 infection. Arrhythmic episodes were detected in 12 patients (9%). In detail, 8 had atrial fibrillation, and 4 self‐limiting supraventricular tachyarrhythmias. There were no cases of ventricular arrhythmias or new‐onset atrioventricular blocks. In addition, we report no patients with QTc interval >450 ms.ConclusionsOur single‐day snapshot survey suggests that the prevalence of arrhythmias among clinically stable COVID‐19 patients is low. In particular, no life‐threatening arrhythmic events occurred.