Low prevalence of arrhythmias in clinically stable COVID‐19 patients
Simone Sala, Giovanni Peretto, Giacomo De Luca, Nicola Farina, Corrado Campochiaro, Moreno Tresoldi, Lorenzo Dagna, Alberto Zangrillo, Simone Gulletta, Paolo Della Bella
Abstract
BACKGROUND: No studies investigated the prevalence of arrhythmias among clinically-stable patients affected by COVID-19 infection. METHODS: We assessed prevalence, type, and burden of arrhythmias, by a single-day snapshot in seven non-intensive COVID Units at a third-level center. RESULTS: We 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. CONCLUSIONS: Our 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.