Abstract
Aims: The main severe complications of SARS-CoV-2 infection are pneumonia and respiratory distress syndrome. Recent studies, however, reported that cardiac injury, as assessed by troponin levels, is associated with a worse outcome in these patients. No study hitherto assessed whether the simple standard electrocardiogram (ECG) may be helpful for risk stratification in these patients. Methods and results: We studied 324 consecutive patients admitted to our Emergency Department with a confirmed diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Standard 12-lead ECG recorded on admission was assessed for cardiac rhythm and rate, atrioventricular and intraventricular conduction, abnormal Q/QS wave, ST segment and T wave changes, corrected QT interval, and tachyarrhythmias. At a mean follow-up of 31 ± 11 days, 44 deaths occurred (13.6%). Most ECG variables were significantly associated with mortality, including atrial fibrillation (P = 0.002), increasing heart rate (P = 0.002), presence of left bundle branch block (LBBB; P < 0.001), QRS duration (P <0. 001), a QRS duration of ≥110 ms (P < 0.001), ST segment depression (P < 0.001), abnormal Q/QS wave (P = 0.034), premature ventricular complexes (PVCs; P = 0.051), and presence of any ECG abnormality [hazard ratio (HR) 4.58; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.40-8.76; P < 0.001]. At multivariable analysis, QRS duration (P = 0.002), QRS duration ≥110 ms (P = 0.03), LBBB (P = 0.014) and presence of any ECG abnormality (P = 0.04) maintained a significant independent association with mortality. Conclusion: Our data show that standard ECG can be helpful for an initial risk stratification of patients admitted for SARS-CoV-2 infectious disease.
Lingua originale | English |
---|---|
pagine (da-a) | 123-129 |
Numero di pagine | 7 |
Rivista | Europace |
Volume | 23 |
DOI | |
Stato di pubblicazione | Pubblicato - 2021 |
Keywords
- Action Potentials
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- COVID-19
- Electrocardiogram
- Electrocardiography
- Female
- Heart Conduction System
- Heart Diseases
- Heart Rate
- Hospital Mortality
- Hospitalization
- Humans
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Mortality
- Predictive Value of Tests
- Prognosis
- Risk Assessment
- Risk Factors
- SARS-CoV-2 infection
- Time Factors