Patterns of Arrhythmias and Conduction Block in COVID-19 Patients and Its Relation to Myocardial Injury Detected by Cardiac Magnetic Resonance

Patterns of Arrhythmias and Conduction Block in COVID-19 Patients and Its Relation to Myocardial Injury Detected by Cardiac Magnetic Resonance

Detection of the incidence and types of arrhythmia and conduction block in COVID - 19 patients Detection and description of CMR patterns of myocardial injury in COVID-19 patients with arrhythmias.

COVID-19 has been declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization and is responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths worldwide.

Early reports from China suggested an overall cardiac arrhythmia incidence of 17% in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. A higher arrhythmia rate (44%) was observed in patients with COVID-19 admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). However, details of the type and burden of arrhythmias in this population have not been elucidated.

Myocardial injury is common in patients with COVID-19, accounting for 7%-23% of reported cases in Wuhan, China. Among COVID-related myocardial injury, etiologies vary and can include myocarditis, myocardial infarction, sepsis-related myocardial injury, and/or stress induced cardiomyopathy. Myocardial injury is associated with high risk of developing all types of arrhythmia including atrial fibrillation, supraventricular tachycardia, ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, and variable degrees of heart block. Sudden cardiac death was also reported.

The pathophysiology of COVID-19-related myocarditis is a combination of direct viral injury and cardiac damage due to the host's immune response. Although the pathophysiology of arrhythmias is still speculative, clinicians should provide prompt monitoring and treatment. The long term impact of COVID-19 myocarditis remains unknown

Meanwhile, cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging is an integral test in the diagnosis of myocardial injury. It can safely be used as a first-line diagnostic tool in the workup of myocardial injury associated with COVID-19.

Investigators believe that proper diagnosis and management of COVID 19 related arrhythmias and their etiology can lead to both in-hospital and long term reduction of morbidity and mortality of this dangerous presentation of the disease.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. COVID 19 suspected patients presented by chest pain, dyspnea, chest discomfort &/or palpitations
2. ECG changes (LBBB, PVCs, ventricular tachycardia, AF, atrial flutter, ST-T changes, and conduction defects).
3. Increased inflammatory markers and / or Tropnin-I.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. COVID 19 patients without ECG changes.
2. Patients known to have the same pattern of arrhythmia or conduction system defects before Covid-19 infection.
3. Patients contraindicated for CMR.