Electrocardiograhic characteristics in patients with coronavirus infection: A single‐center observational study

Li, Yi; Liu, Tong; Tse, Gary; Wu, Mingxiang; Jiang, Jingjing; Liu, Ming; Tao, Liang

BACKGROUND: A global outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID‐19), caused by severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), has emerged since December 2019, in Wuhan, China. However, electrocardiograhic (ECG) manifestations of patients with COVID‐19 have not been fully described. We aim to investigate ECG characteristics in COVID‐19 patients and risk factors of intensive care unit (ICU) admission. METHODS: This retrospective observational study included the patients with COVID‐19 at the Wuhan Asia General hospital between February 10, and 26, 2020. Demographic, clinical, and ECG characteristics were collected, and comparisons were made between the ICU and non‐ICU admission groups. Logistic regression was used to identify risk factors of ICU admission. RESULTS: Among 135 included patients (median age: 64 years [interquartile range: 48–72]), ST‐T abnormalities (40%) were the most common ECG feature, followed by arrhythmias (38%). Cardiovascular disease (CVD) was presented in 48% of the patients. Six (4.4%) died during hospitalization, and 23 (17.0%) were admitted to the ICU. Compared with non‐ICU group, the ICU group showed higher heart rate (p = .019) and P‐wave duration (p = .039) and was more frequently associated with CVD (p < .001), ST‐T abnormalities (p = .007), arrhythmias (p = .003), QTc interval prolongation (p = .003), and pathological Q waves (p < .001). Twenty‐seven patients were re‐examined ECG during admission, and 17 of them presented new findings compared with their initial ECG presentations. ST‐T abnormalities (p = .040) and history of CVD (p = .0047) were associated with increased risk of ICU hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: COVID‐19 is frequently related to cardiovascular manifestations including ECG abnormalities and cardiovascular comorbidities. ST‐T abnormalities and CVD at admission were associated with increased odds of ICU admission.