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The Effect of Chest Computed Tomography Findings on QT Interval in Patients with COVID 19 Using Drugs That May Prolong QT Interval
  • Ferhat Özyurtlu,
  • Nurullah Cetin,
  • Veysel Yavuz
Ferhat Özyurtlu
special grand medical hospital

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Nurullah Cetin
Celal Bayar Universitesi Tip Fakultesi
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Veysel Yavuz
Akhisar Mustafa Kirazoglu State Hospital
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Abstract

Background Some drugs used in the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are likely to increase the risk of QT interval prolongation and related arrhythmias or death. Due to the low sensitivity of the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test, chest computed tomography (CT) imaging is being used for COVID-19 diagnostic correlation and to evaluate whether there is pneumonic involvement in the lung. Objective In this study, we aimed to compare whether there was a difference in terms of QT interval prolongation and effect on heart rate in COVID-19 patients based on their chest CT findings and drug treatment regimes. Methods This was a single-center retrospective cohort study of non-intensive care unit (ICU) patients hospitalized . A total of 344 patients with a mean age of 46.34 ± 17.68 years were included in the study (56.1% men). Patients were divided into four groups according to their chest CT results as having typical, atypical, indeterminate, or no finding of pneumonic involvement. Mean QTc intervals and heart rates calculated from electrocardiograms at admission and after treatment were compared. Results There were no significant differences between groups with regards to age, gender, and body mass index (BMI). There were also no significant differences between the groups in terms of mean QTc interval values upon admission (p:0.127) or after treatment (p:0.205). Heart rate values were similar among the groups as well, with no significant differences in mean heart rate on admission (p:0.648) and post-treatment (p:0.229) ECGs. Conclusion This study has demonstrated finding of COVID-19 infection based on chest CT does not affect QT interval prolongation and bradycardia in non-ICU COVID-19 patients. There is a need for additional larger studies investigating the effect of chest CT findings on QT interval prolongation and bradycardia in COVID-19 patients.
21 Mar 2021Submitted to International Journal of Clinical Practice
27 Mar 2021Submission Checks Completed
27 Mar 2021Assigned to Editor
01 Apr 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
14 Apr 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
23 May 20211st Revision Received
24 May 2021Submission Checks Completed
24 May 2021Assigned to Editor
24 May 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
28 May 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
13 Jun 20212nd Revision Received
14 Jun 2021Submission Checks Completed
14 Jun 2021Assigned to Editor
14 Jun 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
15 Jun 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
22 Jun 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
22 Jun 20213rd Revision Received
23 Jun 2021Submission Checks Completed
23 Jun 2021Assigned to Editor
23 Jun 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
23 Jun 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
27 Jun 2021Editorial Decision: Accept