| Literature DB >> 33231782 |
Amar D Desai1, Brian C Boursiquot1, Lea Melki1, Elaine Y Wan2,3.
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Cardiac arrhythmias are known complications in patients with COVID-19 infection that may persist even after recovery from infection. A review of the spectrum of cardiac arrhythmias due to COVID-19 infection and current guidelines and assessment or risk and benefit of management considerations is necessary as the population of patients infected and covering from COVID-19 continues to grow. RECENTEntities:
Keywords: COVID-19; Cardiac arrhythmias; Sars-CoV-2
Mesh:
Year: 2020 PMID: 33231782 PMCID: PMC7685181 DOI: 10.1007/s11886-020-01434-7
Source DB: PubMed Journal: Curr Cardiol Rep ISSN: 1523-3782 Impact factor: 2.931
Symptoms, clinical findings, and pathophysiology of cardiac arrhythmias during and after COVID-19 infection
| Arrhythmia | Symptoms and clinical findings | Pathophysiology |
|---|---|---|
| AF/AFL | • Palpitations • Dizziness • Chest discomfort • Fatigue • Stroke/thromboembolism • Heart failure | • Systemic inflammation • Worsening of pre-existing cardiovascular disease |
| SVT | • Palpitations • Dizziness • Chest discomfort • Fatigue | • Systemic inflammation • Worsening of pre-existing cardiovascular disease |
| VT/VF | • Syncope • Sudden cardiac death | • Myocarditis • Acute myocardial infarction • Systemic inflammation • Worsening of pre-existing cardiovascular disease • QT prolongation |
| AV Block | • Dizziness • Fatigue • Complete heart block • Asystole | • Unclear if reversible • Unclear if due to inflammation, or direct injury of AV node or His-Purkinje system, or worsening of pre-existing conduction disease |
| POTS/IAST | • Palpitations • Dizziness • Fatigue • Tachycardia at rest and worse with activity | • Autonomic dysfunction |
| QTc prolongation | • May lead to TDP | • QT prolonging medications • Myocardial injury • Structural heart disease, • Electrolyte disturbance • Renal dysfunction |
Fig. 1Cardiac arrhythmias during and after COVID-19 infection. This figure illustrates the effects of COVID-19 infection on the cardiac conduction system, the spectrum of cardiac arrhythmia, and possible management considerations
Management of cardiac arrhythmias in patients with and without COVID-19 infection
| Standard-of-care management in patients without COVID-19 | Management considerations in setting of COVID-19 infection |
|---|---|
| Atrial tachyarrhythmias | |
| Atrial fibrillation [ | |
• First-line rate control consists of beta-blockers and/or non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers. • In hypotensive patients, amiodarone may be used. • Cardioversion can be used in hemodynamically unstable atrial fibrillation. • Rhythm control may be preferred, especially in symptomatic patients. Antiarrhythmic drugs (most commonly flecainide, dofetilide, propafenone, ibutilide, and amiodarone) may be used as pre-treatment for electric cardioversion, for pharmacologic cardioversion, or for chronic maintenance of sinus rhythm. • Catheter ablation may be chosen after failure/intolerance of drugs, or initially by preference. Surgical ablation may be considered in patients with other indications for cardiothoracic surgery. • For prevention of thromboembolism, anticoagulation is indicated peri-procedurally for cardioversion and ablation, as well as long-term for CHA2DS2-VASc score ≥ 2 in men or ≥ 3 in women. In patients at high risk for bleeding with long-term anticoagulation, occlusion or exclusion of left atrial appendage may be considered. | • Patients with underlying restrictive pulmonary disease or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease should be cautioned for bronchospasm while on beta-blocker therapy. • Caution should be used for amiodarone in patients with decreased pulmonary function and/or fibrotic lung disease after COVID-19. • During aerosolizing procedures such as intubation or transesophageal echocardiogram, healthcare providers should don appropriate personal protective equipment. • Cardiac computed tomography may be considered as an alternative imaging modality for evaluation of thrombus prior to cardioversion if patient is actively infected with COVID-19. [ • Given the high rates of thrombotic complications in COVID-19 [ |
| Inappropriate sinus tachycardia | |
• Reassurance and lifestyle interventions including exercise and avoidance of cardiac stimulants. • Beta-blockers and/or ivabradine may be used in symptomatic patients [ • Sinus node ablation may be considered in refractory cases. | • As in the general population, other etiologies of sinus tachycardia must be excluded. Pulmonary embolism should be considered in patients with unexplained sinus tachycardia • Outpatient Holter or event monitor may be helpful for diagnosis. • Beta-blockers may be considered. • It is unclear whether ivabradine may be useful. |
| Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome | |
• Initial management includes consumption of 2–3 L/day of water and 10–12 g/day of sodium, as well as regular and progressive exercise. • Fludrocortisone may be used to aid sodium and water retention. • Midodrine or pyridostigmine may be considered. • Low-dose propranolol or ivabradine may be considered [ | • Tilt-table testing may be considered for evaluation for POTS. • Patients with COVID-19 and evidence of myocardial injury or inflammation should defer competitive sports or aerobic exercise until 3–6 months following infection and resolution of imaging findings and normalization of troponin [ |
| Other supraventricular tachycardia | |
• Cardioversion is indicated in unstable patients. • Vagal maneuvers may abort episodes of AVRT/AVNRT. • Adenosine may be used for abortion or to slow rhythm and aid diagnosis. • Management varies depending on specific arrhythmia. Therapies commonly include beta-blockers and non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers, among other antiarrhythmic drugs. • Catheter ablation may be efficacious. • Electrophysiologic studies may be used for diagnosis or to guide therapy. | • Anticoagulation is generally not indicated unless atrial fibrillation is also present, but in patients with COVID-19, further study may be needed. • Catheter ablation may be considered. • Outpatient Holter or event monitor may be helpful for diagnosis. |
| Atrioventricular block | |
• Avoidance of AV nodal blockade is prudent in all types. • First-degree AV block generally does not require management. • For second and third degree, stabilization (e.g., with atropine or transvenous pacing) and evaluation for reversible causes is the first step. • Permanent pacemaker is indicated if symptomatic, or in those with second degree type II or third degree blocks. | • Pacemaker placement for complete heart block, symptomatic bradycardia, and high-degree AV block. |
| Ventricular arrhythmias | |
• Beta-blockers and/or antiarrhythmics. • ICDs for primary and secondary prevention. • Magnesium, isoproterenol or ventricular pacing should be considered in TDP. • Catheter ablation. | • The necessity of secondary prevention ICDs is unclear, as patients with COVID-19 and ventricular arrhythmias may have no evidence of structural heart disease [ |
| Electrical storm | |
• If unstable, patients should be treated with defibrillation. • Initial therapy consists of both intravenous antiarrhythmic agents (generally amiodarone; but procainamide, flecainide, or lidocaine is also used) and beta-blockers. • Urgent coronary revascularization is indicated in patients with active myocardial ischemia. • Urgent catheter ablation is indicated in medically refractory cases or in scar-related disease. • Antiarrhythmic therapy may be continued long term, especially in patients who do not undergo ablation. | • In patients who do not undergo catheter ablation, the risk of recurrent arrhythmias after resolution of COVID-19 is not known. |