Disease Severity Affects Ventricular Repolarization Parameters in Patients With COVID-19

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Electrophysiology

Background:

• Cardiac arrhythmias are a concern in COVID-19 patients.
• No prior studies have evaluated Tpeak-Tend (Tpe) interval, Tpe/QT ratio, and Tpe/QTc ratio in COVID-19.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate changes in QT, QTc, Tpe interval, Tpe/QT ratio, and Tpe/QTc ratio in COVID-19 patients.
• To assess ventricular repolarization parameters in relation to COVID-19 severity.

Main Methods:

• Compared 90 COVID-19 patients with 30 healthy controls.
• Measured QT, QTc, Tpe interval, Tpe/QT ratio, and Tpe/QTc ratio.
• Categorized patients into healthy, COVID-19 without pneumonia, mild pneumonia, and severe pneumonia groups.

Main Results:

• Tpe, Tpe/QT, and Tpe/QTc were significantly elevated in severe COVID-19 pneumonia (Group IV).
• QT and QTc intervals remained similar across all groups.
• Elevated heart rate, calcium, D-dimer, NT-proBNP, and hs-CRP correlated with increased Tpe, Tpe/QT, and Tpe/QTc.

Conclusions:

• Severe COVID-19 pneumonia is associated with increased Tpe, Tpe/QT ratio, and Tpe/QTc ratio, indicating altered ventricular repolarization.
• These ECG changes are linked to severe disease states, potentially influenced by comorbidities and inflammation, rather than solely the infection.
• Further research is needed to confirm direct causality.