Electrocardiographic Changes in COVID-19 Patients: A Hospital-based Descriptive Study
Deepalakshmi Kaliyaperumal1, Kumar Bhargavi2, Karthikeyan Ramaraju3
1Department of Physiology, PSG IMSR, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.
Insights
Electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities are common in Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) patients, indicating cardiac injury. These ECG findings aid in the early diagnosis and management of cardiovascular complications during the pandemic.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Medical Diagnostics
Background:
- Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is a multisystem illness impacting cardiovascular health.
- Myocardial injury in COVID-19 is linked to poor prognosis.
- Electrocardiogram (ECG) is a valuable bedside tool for assessing cardiac involvement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and types of electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
- To identify potential associations between ECG findings and clinical characteristics.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional, hospital-based descriptive study was conducted.
- Electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings of 315 COVID-19 in-patients were analyzed upon admission.
- Clinical profiles were extracted from patient records.
Main Results:
- Significant ST and T segment changes were observed in 42.9% of patients.
- Rate abnormalities (36.5%) and short QRS complex (8.3%) were frequent.
- Ischemic ECG changes correlated with systemic hypertension and respiratory failure.
Conclusions:
- COVID-19 patients exhibit various ECG abnormalities, including ischemic changes, rate, rhythm, and conduction defects.
- ECG is a crucial, non-invasive tool for early detection and management of cardiac injury in COVID-19.
- The study highlights the utility of ECG in resource-limited settings during the pandemic.
Background:
Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) infection is a multisystem disease not restricted to the lungs. It has a negative impact on the cardiovascular system by causing myocardial damage, vascular inflammation, plaque instability, and myocardial infarction. The presence of myocardial injury is a poor prognostic sign. Electrocardiogram (ECG), a simple bedside diagnostic test with high prognostic value, can be employed to assess early cardiovascular involvement in such patients. Various abnormalities in ECG like ST-T changes, arrhythmia, and conduction defects have been reported in COVID-19. We aimed to find out the ECG abnormalities of COVID-19 patients.
Methods:
We performed a cross-sectional, hospital-based descriptive study among 315 COVID-19 in-patients who underwent ECG recording on admission. Patients' clinical profiles were noted from their records, and the ECG abnormalities were studied.
Results:
Among the abnormal ECGs 255 (81%), rhythm abnormalities were seen in 9 patients (2.9%), rate abnormalities in 115 patients (36.5%), and prolonged PR interval in 2.9%. Short QRS complex was seen in 8.3%. QT interval was prolonged in 8.3% of the patients. Significant changes in the ST and T segments (42.9%) were observed. In logistic regression analysis, ischemic changes in ECG were associated with systemic hypertension and respiratory failure.
Conclusion:
In our study, COVID-19 patients had ischemic changes, rate, rhythm abnormalities, and conduction defects in their ECG. With this ongoing pandemic of COVID-19 and limited health resources, ECG-a simple bedside noninvasive tool is highly beneficial and helps in the early diagnosis and management of cardiac injury.
How To Cite This Article:
Kaliyaperumal D, Bhargavi K, Ramaraju K, Nair KS, Ramalingam S, Alagesan M. Electrocardiographic Changes in COVID-19 Patients: A Hospital-based Descriptive Study. Indian J Crit Care Med 2022;26(1):43-48.
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