Methods and results
In this retrospective, multicentre cohort study, we included 574
remotely monitored automatic (AICD) and cardiac resynchronization
devices (CRT-D) recipients implanted before January
1st 2019 at seven Hospitals of Campania Region,
comparing the incidence of arrhythmias occurred during the lockdown
period due to COVID-19 epidemics (from March 9th to
May 1st 2020) with the arrhythmias rate of the
corresponding period in 2019. An effective retrospective data collection
was performed through remote monitoring, as this tool allows the direct
transfer of the the information stored by the implantable devices to
medical personnel.
During the lockdown period, we observed ventricular tachyarrhythmias
(ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation) in 25 (4.8%) patients as
compared to 12 (2.3%) during the corresponding 2019 period (p
< 0.04); new-onset atrial fibrillation was detected in 38
(8.2%) subjects during lockdown period and in 24 (5.2%) during the
reference period (p < 0.004).