COVID-19 and arrhythmia: An overview
Joseph A Varney1, Vinh S Dong2, Tiffany Tsao1
1American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine, Cupecoy, Sint Maarten.
Journal of Cardiology
|January 25, 2022
Summary
COVID-19 patients, especially the critically ill, experience arrhythmias due to factors like hypoxia and inflammation. This review examines the mechanisms, risk factors, and clinical implications of these cardiac events in adults and children.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Critical Care Medicine
Background:
- Arrhythmias are a significant concern in COVID-19 patients.
- Multiple factors contribute to arrhythmias, including hypoxia, inflammation, and pre-existing cardiac conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the association between COVID-19 and arrhythmias.
- To detail pathophysiological mechanisms and pro-arrhythmic factors.
- To analyze findings in adult and pediatric populations and discuss clinical implications.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on COVID-19 and arrhythmias.
- Analysis of pathophysiological mechanisms.
- Examination of data from adult and pediatric COVID-19 cohorts.
Main Results:
- Arrhythmias are linked to hypoxia, myocardial ischemia, inflammation, and certain medications.
- Critically ill COVID-19 patients in intensive care units show the highest prevalence of arrhythmias and cardiac arrests.
- Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children can cause cardiac injury and arrhythmias.
Conclusions:
- Understanding the link between COVID-19 and arrhythmias is crucial for patient management.
- Identifying pro-arrhythmic factors can guide preventative strategies.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the clinical implications for diverse patient groups.
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