Does Cardiac Arrhythmia Predict Worse Outcome in Mild or Moderate Covid-19 Infection?

• Published in: SN comprehensive clinical medicine 2023-01, Vol.5 (1), p.162-162, Article 162
• Main Authors: Speedie, Abraham, Manickavasagam, Anand, Patloori, Sirish Chandra Srinath, Karuppusamy, Reka, James, Rintu, S, Mahalakshmi, Chase, David, Jacob, John Roshan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Original Paper; Topical Collection on COVID-19
• ISSN: 2523-8973; 2523-8973
• DOI: 10.1007/s42399-023-01497-x

Covid-19 is a multisystem disease with the lungs being predominantly affected. Cardiac involvement is mostly seen as a rise in troponins, arrhythmias, and ventricular dysfunction. This study aimed to estimate the incidence of arrhythmias seen in Covid-19 infection and assess if arrhythmias predict worsening or mortality . Prospective observational study involving patients with mild to moderate Covid illness admitted in a tertiary care centre. Among the 85 patients (Mean age 45.8 + 14.1 years; 75.31% men), worsening of Covid-19 illness was seen in 29 (34.1%) patients. New onset arrhythmias were detected on Holter in 9 (10.5%) patients. Supraventricular tachycardia was seen in 7 (8.2%) patients of whom 6 showed worsening which was statistically significant ( p -value-0.006). Risk factors associated with worsening on univariate analysis were male gender (OR [95%CI] = 6.93(1.49–32.31), p -value – 0.014), new onset supraventricular tachycardia (OR [95% CI] = 14.35 [1.64–125.94], p -value – 0.016) and D-dimer elevation (OR [95% CI] = 1.00(1.00–1.01), p -value – 0.02). On multivariate analysis D-dimer (OR [95% CI] = 1.00(1.00–1.01; p -value 0.046) and supraventricular arrhythmias (OR [95% CI] = 11.12 (1.22–101.14); p -value – 0.033) were independently associated with worsening. Covid-19 infection can lead to cardiac arrhythmias. The development of supraventricular tachycardia in patients with Covid-19 infection predicts higher morbidity and worsening.