Prevalence, Outcomes, and Management of Ventricular Arrhythmias in COVID-19 Patients

Nicola Tarantino; Domenico G Della Rocca; Fengwei Zou; Aung Lin; Andrea Natale; Luigi Di Biase

doi:10.1016/j.ccep.2021.10.002

Prevalence, Outcomes, and Management of Ventricular Arrhythmias in COVID-19 Patients

Card Electrophysiol Clin. 2022 Mar;14(1):11-20. doi: 10.1016/j.ccep.2021.10.002. Epub 2021 Oct 29.

Authors

Nicola Tarantino¹, Domenico G Della Rocca², Fengwei Zou¹, Aung Lin¹, Andrea Natale³, Luigi Di Biase⁴

Affiliations

¹ Montefiore Medical Center, 111 E 210th street, Bronx, NY 10467, USA.
² Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute at St. David's Medical Center, 3000 N I-35, Suite 720, Austin, TX 78705, USA.
³ Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute at St. David's Medical Center, 3000 N I-35, Suite 720, Austin, TX 78705, USA; Scripps Interventional Car, 9834 Genesee Ave, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; Health Education Campus, 9501 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
⁴ Montefiore Medical Center, 111 E 210th street, Bronx, NY 10467, USA; Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute at St. David's Medical Center, 3000 N I-35, Suite 720, Austin, TX 78705, USA. Electronic address: dibbia@gmail.com.

Abstract

We review the current data on epidemiology, the clinical significance, the pathophysiologic mechanisms, and the treatment of VAs in the setting of COVID-19. VAs prevail in 0.15% to 8% of hospitalized patients, but only sustained and rapid tachyarrhythmias are purportedly associated with a significant increase in mortality. Multiple factors can elicit VAs, which are ultimately deemed to be a marker of severe systemic disease rather than a distinct cardiac condition. Even though the electrophysiologist plays a determinant role in the secondary prevention of VAs, a multidisciplinary approach is indispensable for primary prophylaxis and acute management.

Keywords: Arrhythmias; COVID-19; Complications; Management; Outcomes; SARS-CoV-2; Ventricular tachycardia.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Arrhythmias, Cardiac / epidemiology
Arrhythmias, Cardiac / therapy
COVID-19* / epidemiology
Humans
Prevalence
SARS-CoV-2
Tachycardia