Symptomatic Bradycardia in Covid-19 Hospitalized Patients: A Case Series

Int J Infect Dis. 2021 Oct:111:1-4. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2021.07.068. Epub 2021 Jul 29.

Abstract

SARS COV-2 infection has become a global threat. Cardiovascular manifestations associated with Covid-19 have been noted in several publications, and bradycardia related to Covid-19 is a commonly reported complication. This study reports six serial cases of bradycardia attributable to Covid-19; four of them developed complete atrioventricular block. These patients experienced clinical symptoms related to bradycardia and initially required permanent pacemaker implantation. However, one patient did not require permanent pacing later on due to spontaneous conversion to sinus rhythm. In comparison, the other two patients who developed transient sinus bradycardia experienced a self-limiting condition during their hospitalization period without requiring any cardiac pacing device or medication to increase heart rate. Complete atrioventricular block and transient sinus bradycardia in these patients, despite not having any history of bradycardia, might be due to complex processes in the systemic inflammatory response in Covid-19. Cardiac monitoring, hemodynamic evaluation, and strategy for permanent pacemaker in these patients should be treated on a case-by-case basis.

Keywords: Bradycardia; Complete atrioventricular block; Covid-19; Transient sinus bradycardia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac
  • Bradycardia / etiology
  • COVID-19*
  • Humans
  • Pacemaker, Artificial*
  • SARS-CoV-2