Prolonged corrected QT interval in hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates: a single-center, retrospective study

To evaluate the association of a prolonged corrected QT (QTc) interval in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and its association with in-patient mortality.

A cohort of 745 patients were recruited from a single center between 1 March 2020 and 31 May 2020. We analyzed the factors associated with a prolonged QTc and mortality.

A prolonged QTc interval >450 ms was found in 27% of patients admitted with SARS-CoV-2 infection. These patients were predominantly older, on a ventilator, and had hypertension, diabetes mellitus, or ischemic heart disease. They also had high troponin and D-dimer concentrations. A prolonged QTc interval had a significant association with the requirement of ventilator support and was associated with an increased odds of mortality. Patients who died were older than 55 years, and had high troponin, D-dimer, creatinine, procalcitonin, and ferritin concentrations, a high white blood cell count, and abnormal potassium concentrations (hypo- or hyperkalemia).

A prolonged QTc interval is common in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection and it is associated with worse outcomes. Older individuals and those with comorbidities should have an electrocardiogram performed, which is noninvasive and easily available, on admission to hospital to identify high-risk patients.