Cukurova Medical Journal (Mar 2021)
Evaluation of association between asymptomatic COVID-19 and ventricular arrhythmias
Abstract
Purpose: Electrocardiography (ECG) is the first-line diagnostic tool to evaluate cardiac involvement in any disease and COVID-19 patients. The objective of this study is to investigate the ventricular arrhythmia forming effect of COVID-19 and to guide the treatment. Materials and Methods: A total of 74 patients (mean age 52.63±17.85 years) under follow-up for asymptomatic COVID-19 and 74 healthy volunteers (mean age 50.71±6.02 years) were enrolled in the study. Heart rate, QRS duration, QT distance, T-wave morphology (Tp-e interval), Tp-e/QT ratio, and index of cardio-electrophysiological balance (iCEB) were analyzed and compared to both groups. Results: The heart rate was higher, and the QT interval was shorter on ECG in the COVID-19 group. QTc interval, Tp-e intervals, and Tp-e/QT ratio were not different between groups. Furthermore, iCEB and iCEB-c values were not different between groups. A significant positive but weak correlation was observed between CRP and troponin values in patients with COVID-19. Moreover, there was no correlation between troponin levels and Tp-e/QT ratio and iCEB in patients with COVID-19. Conclusion: The chronic cardiac effects of the COVID-19 have not been elucidated. Prospective clinical trials with long-term and a high number of patient populations are needed to reveal this. Notably, patients with significantly elevated troponin values should be followed up for long-term development of cardiomyopathy and arrhythmias.
