ABSTRACT
There is growing evidence that COVID-19 can cause cardiovascular complications. However, there are limited data on the characteristics and importance of atrial arrhythmia (AA) in patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Data from 1,029 patients diagnosed with of COVID-19 and admitted to Columbia University Medical Center between March 1, 2020 and April 15, 2020 were analyzed. The diagnosis of AA was confirmed by 12 lead electrocardiographic recordings, 24-hour telemetry recordings and implantable device interrogations. Patients' history, biomarkers and hospital course were reviewed. Outcomes that were assessed were intubation, discharge and mortality. Of 1,029 patients reviewed, 82 (8%) were diagnosed with AA in whom 46 (56%) were new-onset AA 16 (20%) recurrent paroxysmal and 20 (24%) were chronic persistent AA. Sixty-five percent of the patients diagnosed with AA (n=53) died. Patients diagnosed with AA had significantly higher mortality compared with those without AA (65% vs 21%; p < 0.001). Predictors of mortality were older age (Odds Ratio (OR)=1.12, [95% Confidence Interval (CI), 1.04 to 1.22]); male gender (OR=6.4 [95% CI, 1.3 to 32]); azithromycin use (OR=13.4 [95% CI, 2.14 to 84]); and higher D-dimer levels (OR=2.8 [95% CI, 1.1 to 7.3]). In conclusion, patients diagnosed with AA had 3.1 times significant increase in mortality rate versus patients without diagnosis of AA in COVID-19 patients. Older age, male gender, azithromycin use and higher baseline D-dimer levels were predictors of mortality.