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Arrhythmias in Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Wuhan, China: Incidences and Implications
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  • Hongquan Guan,
  • Jie Liu,
  • Jiaxing Ding,
  • Wei Liu,
  • Yu Feng,
  • Yintu Bao,
  • Huili Li,
  • Zihua Zhou,
  • Zhijian Chen
Hongquan Guan
Wuhan Union Hospital

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Jie Liu
Wuhan Union Hospital
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Jiaxing Ding
Wuhan Union Hospital
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Wei Liu
Wuhan Union Hospital
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Yu Feng
Wuhan Union Hospital
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Yintu Bao
Wuhan Union Hospital
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Huili Li
Wuhan Union Hospital
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Zihua Zhou
Wuhan Union Hospital
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Zhijian Chen
Wuhan Union Hospital
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Abstract

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to impact populations around the globe. Information regarding the incidences and implications of arrhythmias in COVID-19 is limited. Methods: A total of 463 patients with confirmed COVID-19 and at least one electrocardiogram from February 1 to March 19, 2020 in Wuhan Union Hospital West Campus were enrolled in the study. Results: 396 of 463 patients (85.5%) experienced arrhythmias. Sinus arrhythmias were presented in 69.1%, atrial arrhythmias in 10.2%, junctional arrhythmias in 0.2%, ventricular arrhythmias in 3.5%, and conduction block in 7.3%. Sinus tachycardia (307 [66.3%]) was the most frequently observed type of arrhythmias. Kaplan-Meier curves showed that patients with vs those without arrhythmias had higher mortality, both during the time from symptom onset (p=0.002) and from admission to follow-up (p=0.003). Arrhythmias were presented more among patients in critical group than in non-critical group (96.6% vs 81.7%; p<0.001), also in died group than in discharged group (100.0% vs 83.4%; p=0.001). Sinus tachycardia, sinus bradycardia and atrial arrhythmias could predict severity and mortality, their odds ratios (OR) were 2.91 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.66 to 5.12), 4.82 (95% CI 1.91 to 12.18), 6.70 (95%CI 3.27 to 13.70) respectively for severity, and were 2.13 (95% CI 1.08 to 4.18), 3.95 (95% CI 1.47 to 10.63), 4.36 (95% CI 2.05 to 9.26) respectively for mortality. Additionally, ventricular arrhythmias (OR 5.38, 95% CI 1.69-17.17) were high-risk factors for hospitalized exacerbations. Conclusions: Sinus tachycardia was the most common arrhythmia. Arrhythmias were significantly associated with severity and mortality in COVID-19 patients.
Mar 2021Published in Journal of Electrocardiology volume 65 on pages 96-101. 10.1016/j.jelectrocard.2021.01.012