The relationship between length of stay in intensive care unit and Tpeak‐Tend and Tpeak‐Tend/QTc ratio in COVID 19 patients with acute coronary syndrome

Abstract

Abstract Background Patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) can develop cardiac injury resulting in cardiac arrhythmias, myocarditis, and acute coronary syndrome (ACS). In this study, we aimed to investigate whether COVID‐19 infection affects ventricular repolarization parameters such as Tpeak‐Tend interval (Tp‐e), QT interval, corrected QT (QTc), Tp‐e/QT, and Tp‐e/cQT in patients with ACS. Methods The study consisted of two groups. The first group included patients with ACS and COVID‐19 (Group 1) (n = 50). Polymerase chain reaction test positive patients were enrolled. The second group included patients with only ACS (Group 2) (n = 100). The risk of ventricular arrhythmias was evaluated on the basis of the measured electrocardiographic Tp‐e and QT interval, and QTc, Tp‐e/QT, and Tp‐e/QTc values. Results Tp‐e interval, QTc, and Tp‐e/QTc were significantly higher in the group1 than group 2 (p < .001, p < .018, and p < .001, respectively). Significant positive correlations were found between Tp‐e, D‐dimer level, and C‐reactive protein (CRP) level in the group1 (p = .002, p = 0 .03, and p = .021, respectively). Univariate and multivariate regression analyses revealed that Tp‐e was one of the independent predictor of length of stay in the intensive care unit (ICU). (B = 1.662, p = .006 and B = 1.804, p = .021, respectively). Conclusions In the patients with ACS, COVID‐19 infection caused increases in QTc, Tp‐e, and Tp‐e/QTc ratio. In addition, age and prolonged Tp‐e were found to be independent predictors of prolonged ICU stay.

Keywords

• acute coronary syndrome
• cardiac arrhythmias
• COVID‐19
• electrocardiography
• intensive care unit