Risk of drug-induced cardiac arrhythmia during COVID-19 therapeutic treatment

Abstract

AbstractTherapeutic treatment of severe COVID-19 infection involves the administration of multiple pharmacologic agents to reduce the risk of serious complications; this may result in drug interactions and possible adverse reactions and induced cardiotoxicity. The risk–benefit ratio associated with the use of medications to treat COVID-19 should be carefully monitored. In addition, the severe COVID-19 patient may experience cardiac damage, and alteration of normal cardiac electrophysiology function. Severe COVID-19 with cardiac involvement and the risk of drug-induced adverse reactions may cause cardiac arrhythmias, including long qt syndrome, which in some cases may lead to sudden death. In this short review we briefly review the pharmacological agents used to treat severe COVID-19 with increased risk of causing long qt forms.