Hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin have been proposed as treatment of COVID-19 patients, but few reports have assessed this combination therapy in critically ill COVID-19 patients.

Many raised concerns regarding the potential cardiac toxicity of this association.

The purpose of this monocenter retrospective observational study is to evaluate the safety of a short term treatment with hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin in critically ill patients admitted in ICU for severe COVID-19 with respiratory failure.

The main objective is to assess the incidence of severe cardiac arrhythmia e.g torsade de pointes and cardiac arrest or sudden death, during the treatment period.

Inclusion Criteria:

• critically ill patients admitted in ICU for severe COVID-19 with respiratory failure for at least two days of treatment with hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin.

Exclusion Criteria:

• cardiac conduction disorders
• continuous anti-arrhythmic therapy
• heart failure
• chronic renal failure

Critically ill patients admitted in ICU for severe COVID-19 with respiratory failure and a short term treatment with hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and azithromycin (AZ):

• HCQ administered at a daily dosage of 600mg in 3 doses for 10 days.
• AZ administered at a dosage of 500mg on the first day and then 250mg/day for 4 to 6 days.