Does prolonged QTc predict pulmonary involvement in COVID-19 patients?

Abstract

Objectives: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a disease with high mortality due to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) secondary to viral pneumonia. In addition to its effects on the respiratory system, coronavirus is known to have serious systemic effects on the cardiovascular system. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between prolonged QTc duration and COVID-19 specific pulmonary involvement Methods: Between December 2020 and February 2021, 112 patients who were diagnosed with COVID-19 in our COVID-19 outpatient clinic and met the inclusion criteria were evaluated for the association between cardiac variables (heart rate, PR width, QRS width, fQRS, and QTc interval), other patient characteristics and lung involvement. Results: A significant difference was found between the QTc intervals of COVID-19 patients with and without lung involvement (p < 0.026). In the ROC analysis for the QTc interval, which was found to be significant in the multivariate regression analysis, the cut-off value of 419.5 ms had a sensitivity of 72% and a specificity of 51.6% in predicting pulmonary involvement. Conclusions: Prolonged QTc duration may be useful in predicting COVID-19 pulmonary involvement in patients admitted to the emergency department.