Results: Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and medication data were analyzed. Brady-
arrhythmia events recorded on continuous telemetry were analyzed for number, type,
duration, and risk determinants. The median age of the 26 patients was 49.5 years (yrs)
(range 33-78 yrs) and 15 (57.7%) were men. Significant bradycardia and cardiac pauses
occurred in 11 (42.3%) patients. The median age of patients with an event was 57 years
(range 33-66 yrs) and 5/11 (45.5%) were men. The average pause duration was 6.77
seconds with a range of 1.6 to 30 seconds. Five of eleven (45.5%) patients had a high-
grade atrioventricular nodal block. One patient had complete heart block requiring
temporary transvenous pacing despite stopping Dexmedetomidine. A trend towards
higher Troponin I level in brady-arrhythmia patients was noted (mean of 2.72 ng/mL, (SD)
4.48) compared to patients without event(s) (Troponin I of 0.42 ng/mL 0.52, p-value
0.07). Other laboratory values such as N-terminal-pro B-type natriuretic peptide, C-
reactive protein, and Procalcitonin were not significantly different. The use of
Dexmedetomidine was not related to pauses.
Conclusion: Significant bradycardic events in critically ill patients with COVID-19
occurred in 42.3% of patients. These patients with severe sepsis/acute respiratory
distress syndrome secondary to COVID-19 are susceptible to significant cardiac brady-
arrhythmias. Enhanced monitoring could influence the future management of patients
infected with SARS-CoV-2.
Made with FlippingBook Digital Publishing Software