QT Interval Monitoring with Handheld Heart Rhythm ECG Device in COVID-19 Patients.

Background: QTc prolongation is an adverse effect of COVID-19 therapies. The use of a handheld device in this scenario has not been addressed. Objectives: To evaluate the feasibility of QTc monitoring with a smart device in COVID-19 patients receiving QTc-interfering therapies. Methods: Prospective study of consecutive COVID-19 patients treated with hydroxychloroquine ± azithromycin ± lopinavir-ritonavir. ECG monitoring was performed with 12-lead ECG or with KardiaMobile-6L. Both registries were also sequentially obtained in a cohort of healthy patients. We evaluated differences in QTc in COVID-19 patients between three different monitoring strategies: 12-lead ECG at baseline and follow-up (A), 12-lead ECG at baseline and follow-up with the smart device (B), and fully monitored with handheld 6-lead ECG (group C). Time needed to obtain an ECG registry was also documented. Results: One hundred and eighty-two COVID-19 patients were included (A: 119(65.4%); B: 50(27.5%); C: 13(7.1%). QTc peak during hospitalization did significantly increase in all groups. No differences were observed between the three monitoring strategies in QTc prolongation (p = 0.864). In the control group, all but one ECG registry with the smart device allowed QTc measurement and mean QTc did not differ between both techniques (p = 0.612), displaying a moderate reliability (ICC 0.56 [0.19-0.76]). Time of ECG registry was significantly longer for the 12-lead ECG than for handheld device in both cohorts (p < 0.001). Conclusion: QTc monitoring with KardiaMobile-6L in COVID-19 patients was feasible. Time of ECG registration was significantly lower with the smart device, which may offer an important advantage for prevention of virus dissemination among healthcare providers.

Effect of hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin and lopinavir/ritonavir on the QT corrected interval in patients with COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Administration of Hydroxychloroquine and Azithromycin in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) prolongs QTc corrected interval (QTc). The effect and safety of Lopinavir/Ritonavir in combination with these therapies have seldom been studied. OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to evaluate changes in QTc in patients receiving double (Hydroxychloroquine + Azithromycin) and triple therapy (Hydroxychloroquine + Azithromycin + Lopinavir/Ritonavir) to treat COVID-19. Secondary outcome was the incidence of in-hospital all-cause mortality. METHODS: Patients under treatment with double (DT) and triple therapy (TT) for COVID-19 were consecutively included in this prospective observational study. Serial in-hospital electrocardiograms were performed to measure QTc at baseline and during therapy. RESULTS: 168 patients (±66.2 years old) were included: 32.1% received DT and 67.9% received TT. The mean baseline QTc was 410.33 ms. Patients under DT and TT prolonged QTc interval respect baseline values (p < 0.001), without significant differences between both therapy groups (p = 0.748). Overall, 33 patients (19.6%) had a peak QTc and/or an increase QTc 60 ms from baseline, with a higher prevalence among those with hypokalemia (p = 0.003). All-cause mortality was similar between both strategy groups (p = 0.093) and high risk QTc prolongation was no related to clinical events in this series. CONCLUSIONS: DT and TT prolong the QTc in patients with COVID-19. Addition of Lopinavir/Ritonavir on top of Hydroxychloroquine and Azithromycin did not increase QTc compared to DT.

A case report of arterial and venous thromboembolism in a patient with severe COVID-19 pneumonia.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread rapidly worldwide since the outbreak originated in Wuhan, China in December 2019. Cardiovascular complications in patients with severe COVID-19 have been reported and are associated with a worse outcome. Coagulopathy is one of the most common life-threatening complication increasing mortality; however, little evidence is available regarding prevention strategies or its treatment in COVID-19 patients. CASE SUMMARY: We report a case of a 70-year-old woman admitted to hospital with severe COVID-19 bilateral pneumonia who developed severe coagulopathy with multiple both, venous and arterial, embolisms in major vessels such as bilateral pulmonary embolism, acute thrombus in abdominal aorta, and acute thrombotic occlusion of the right iliac common artery. The patient underwent emergent surgical thrombectomy of the right lower limb; in spite of anticoagulant treatment at therapeutic doses, patient presented poor clinical evolution and an infracondylar amputation of right lower limb was made finally. Subsequently, the patient received low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), antibiotics and antiviral therapy improving her renal function and her pneumonia, so she could be discharged safely. DISCUSSION: Prothrombotic coagulopathy due to enhanced acute inflammatory response and diffuse intravascular coagulation has been described in severe critical COVID-19 patients. This state of hypercoagulability is associated with organ dysfunction and mortality and may predispose to both, venous and arterial, thromboembolism. Little data are available regarding the best therapeutic and prevention strategies in this scenario, although thrombosis prophylaxis with LMWH has been associated with a better outcome.

Incidence and prognostic implications of late bleeding events after percutaneous mitral valve repair.

OBJECTIVES: MitraClip is an established therapy for patients with mitral regurgitation (MR) that are considered of high-risk or inoperable. However, late bleeding events (BE) after hospital discharge and their impact on prognosis in this cohort of patients have been poorly investigated. Our purpose is to address the incidence, related factors and clinical implications of BE after hospital discharge in patients treated with MitraClip. METHODS: Prospective registry of all consecutive patients (n = 80) who underwent MitraClip implantation in our Institution between June 2014 and December 2017. BE were defined according to MVARC definitions. A combined clinical end-point including admission for heart failure (HF) and all-cause mortality was established to analyze prognostic implications of BE. RESULTS: During a median follow up of 523.5 days, 41 BE were reported in 21 patients. Atrial fibrillation (AF, HR 4.54, CI95% 1.20-17.10) and combined antithrombotic therapy at discharge (HR 3.52, CI95% 1.03-11.34) were independently associated with BE. In the study period, 15 (18.8%) patients died, 20 (25%) were admitted for HF and 29 (36.3%) presented the combined end-point. After multivariable adjustment BE remained independently associated with an adverse outcome (HR 3.80, CI 95% 1.66-8.72). In the subgroup of patients with AF, HAS-BLED score was higher among subjects with BE (3.1 ±â€¯1.3 vs 2.1 ±â€¯0.9, p = 0.003). HAS-BLED score had a significant discrimination power for the occurrence BE (AUC: 0.677 [0.507-0.848]) in this subgroup. CONCLUSIONS: BE are common after MitraClip and are associated with an impaired outcome. Strategies to reduce bleeding events are paramount in this cohort of patients.