Conduction system disorders and electro-cardiographic findings in COVID-19 deceased patients in 2021,Shiraz,Iran

摘要

BACKGROUND Cardiac conduction disorders and electrocardiographic(ECG)changes may occur as a manifestation of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19),especially in severe cases.AIM To describe conduction system disorders and their association with other electrocardiographic parameters in patients who died of COVID-19.METHODS In this cross-sectional study,electrocardiographic and clinical data of 432 patients who expired from COVID-19 between August 1st,2021,and December 1st,2021,in a tertiary hospital were reviewed.RESULTS Among 432 patients who died from COVID-19,atrioventricular block(AVB)was found in 40(9.3%).Among these 40 patients,28(6.5%)suffered from 1st degree AVB,and 12(2.8%)suffered from complete heart block(CHB).Changes in ST-T wave,compatible with myocardial infarction or localized myocarditis,appeared in 189(59.0%).Findings compatible with myocardial injury,such as fragmented QRS and prolonged QTc,were found in 91 patients(21.1%)and 28 patients(6.5%),respectively.In patients who died of COVID-19,conduction disorder was unrelated to any underlying medical condition.Fragmented QRS,axis deviation,and ST-T changes were significantly related to conduction system disorder in patients who died of COVID-19(P value<0.05).CONCLUSION Conduction system disorders are associated with several other ECG abnormalities,especially those indicative of myocardial ischemia or inflammation.Most patients(73.14%)who died of COVID-19 demonstrated at least one ECG abnormality parameter.Since a COVID-19 patient's ECG gives important information regarding their cardiac health,our findings can help develop a risk stratification method for at-risk COVID-19 patients in future studies.