Ventricular arrhythmias among patients with implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator during the COVID‐19 pandemic

Abstract Background Coronavirus Disease‐2019 (COVID‐19) has been associated with myocardial injury and higher risk of arrhythmic complications. However, no reports are available about the effect of the ongoing pandemic on arrhythmias in patients at risk. Objective To describe the effect of COVID‐19...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: G. Malanchini, P. Ferrari, C. Leidi, G. Ferrari, M. Racheli, M. Senni, P. De Filippo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2021-04-01
Series:Journal of Arrhythmia
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/joa3.12518
_version_ 1818947727412690944
author G. Malanchini
P. Ferrari
C. Leidi
G. Ferrari
M. Racheli
M. Senni
P. De Filippo
author_facet G. Malanchini
P. Ferrari
C. Leidi
G. Ferrari
M. Racheli
M. Senni
P. De Filippo
author_sort G. Malanchini
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Coronavirus Disease‐2019 (COVID‐19) has been associated with myocardial injury and higher risk of arrhythmic complications. However, no reports are available about the effect of the ongoing pandemic on arrhythmias in patients at risk. Objective To describe the effect of COVID‐19 pandemic on arrhythmic burden among high‐risk patients. Methods This is a cross‐sectional study on the incidence of ventricular arrhythmia (VA) during the pandemic outbreak (study period), compared to the same timeframe in 2019 (reference period). Inclusion criteria were age (>18 years) and having an implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD). Results Among 455 patients enrolled (mean age 64.9 ± 15.7 years; 25.1% females and 39.6% with CRTD), in the study period, 45 (9.9%) patients experienced a total of 86 VA; 8 patients (1.7%) required antitachycardia‐pacing (ATP) and 6 (1.3%) at least one shock. In the reference period, a total of 69 events occurred in 36 patients (7.9%). Six patients (1.3%) required ATP and three (0.7%) at least one shock. The number of patients that suffered from any arrhythmic events in the study period (9.9% vs 7.9%) did not significantly differ from the reference period (χ2 = 1.09, P = .29). The main predictor of VA during the COVID‐19 pandemic was the previous history of any ICD therapy (OR = 3.84, P < .001). Conclusions No evidence of an increase of arrhythmic burden was found during the COVID‐19 pandemic among patients with an ICD.
first_indexed 2024-12-20T08:35:30Z
format Article
id doaj.art-894918787530407da4faaf8fba0f16c5
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1880-4276
1883-2148
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-20T08:35:30Z
publishDate 2021-04-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Journal of Arrhythmia
spelling doaj.art-894918787530407da4faaf8fba0f16c52022-12-21T19:46:35ZengWileyJournal of Arrhythmia1880-42761883-21482021-04-0137240741310.1002/joa3.12518Ventricular arrhythmias among patients with implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator during the COVID‐19 pandemicG. Malanchini0P. Ferrari1C. Leidi2G. Ferrari3M. Racheli4M. Senni5P. De Filippo6ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII Bergamo ItalyASST Papa Giovanni XXIII Bergamo ItalyASST Papa Giovanni XXIII Bergamo ItalyASST Papa Giovanni XXIII Bergamo ItalyASST Papa Giovanni XXIII Bergamo ItalyASST Papa Giovanni XXIII Bergamo ItalyASST Papa Giovanni XXIII Bergamo ItalyAbstract Background Coronavirus Disease‐2019 (COVID‐19) has been associated with myocardial injury and higher risk of arrhythmic complications. However, no reports are available about the effect of the ongoing pandemic on arrhythmias in patients at risk. Objective To describe the effect of COVID‐19 pandemic on arrhythmic burden among high‐risk patients. Methods This is a cross‐sectional study on the incidence of ventricular arrhythmia (VA) during the pandemic outbreak (study period), compared to the same timeframe in 2019 (reference period). Inclusion criteria were age (>18 years) and having an implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD). Results Among 455 patients enrolled (mean age 64.9 ± 15.7 years; 25.1% females and 39.6% with CRTD), in the study period, 45 (9.9%) patients experienced a total of 86 VA; 8 patients (1.7%) required antitachycardia‐pacing (ATP) and 6 (1.3%) at least one shock. In the reference period, a total of 69 events occurred in 36 patients (7.9%). Six patients (1.3%) required ATP and three (0.7%) at least one shock. The number of patients that suffered from any arrhythmic events in the study period (9.9% vs 7.9%) did not significantly differ from the reference period (χ2 = 1.09, P = .29). The main predictor of VA during the COVID‐19 pandemic was the previous history of any ICD therapy (OR = 3.84, P < .001). Conclusions No evidence of an increase of arrhythmic burden was found during the COVID‐19 pandemic among patients with an ICD.https://doi.org/10.1002/joa3.12518
spellingShingle G. Malanchini
P. Ferrari
C. Leidi
G. Ferrari
M. Racheli
M. Senni
P. De Filippo
Ventricular arrhythmias among patients with implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Journal of Arrhythmia
title Ventricular arrhythmias among patients with implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator during the COVID‐19 pandemic
title_full Ventricular arrhythmias among patients with implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator during the COVID‐19 pandemic
title_fullStr Ventricular arrhythmias among patients with implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator during the COVID‐19 pandemic
title_full_unstemmed Ventricular arrhythmias among patients with implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator during the COVID‐19 pandemic
title_short Ventricular arrhythmias among patients with implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator during the COVID‐19 pandemic
title_sort ventricular arrhythmias among patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillator during the covid 19 pandemic
url https://doi.org/10.1002/joa3.12518
work_keys_str_mv AT gmalanchini ventriculararrhythmiasamongpatientswithimplantablecardioverterdefibrillatorduringthecovid19pandemic
AT pferrari ventriculararrhythmiasamongpatientswithimplantablecardioverterdefibrillatorduringthecovid19pandemic
AT cleidi ventriculararrhythmiasamongpatientswithimplantablecardioverterdefibrillatorduringthecovid19pandemic
AT gferrari ventriculararrhythmiasamongpatientswithimplantablecardioverterdefibrillatorduringthecovid19pandemic
AT mracheli ventriculararrhythmiasamongpatientswithimplantablecardioverterdefibrillatorduringthecovid19pandemic
AT msenni ventriculararrhythmiasamongpatientswithimplantablecardioverterdefibrillatorduringthecovid19pandemic
AT pdefilippo ventriculararrhythmiasamongpatientswithimplantablecardioverterdefibrillatorduringthecovid19pandemic