New-onset atrial fibrillation in hospitalized COVID-19 patients was associated with a 5.3-fold increased risk of 5-day mortality compared to patients without atrial fibrillation (p=0.0014).
Cohort (n=175)
No
Does new-onset atrial fibrillation increase early mortality in hospitalized COVID-19 patients?
New-onset atrial fibrillation in hospitalized COVID-19 patients is associated with higher IL-6 levels and a significantly increased risk of early mortality.
Relative Risk: 5.3
p-value: p=0.0014
Background and objectives: COVID-19 is associated with an aberrant inflammatory response that may trigger new-onset cardiac arrhythmias. The aim of this study was to assess the mortality risk in hospitalized COVID-19 patients according to IL-6 serum levels and new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) according to PaO2/FiO2 stratification. Materials and Methods: 175 COVID-19 patients (25 new-onset AF, 22 other types of AF and 128 no-AF) were included in this single-center, retrospective study; clinical and demographic data, vital signs, electrocardiograms and laboratory results were collected and analyzed. The primary outcome of the study was to evaluate the mortality rate in new-onset AF patients according to IL-6 serum levels and PaO2/FiO2 stratification. Results: The incidence of new-onset AF in the study population was 14.2%. Compared to the no-AF group, new-onset AF patients were older with a positive history of chronic kidney disease and heart failure, had higher IL-6, creatinine and urea serum levels whereas their platelet count was reduced. After PaO2/FiO2 stratification, 5-days mortality rate was higher in new-onset AF patients compared to patients with other types of AF and no-AF patients, and mortality risk increases 5.3 fold compared to no-AF (p = 0.0014) and 4.8 fold compared to other forms of AF (p = 0.03). Conclusions: New-onset AF is common in COVID-19 patients and is associated with increased IL-6 serum levels and early mortality. Further studies are needed to support the use of IL-6 as an early molecular target for COVID-19 patients to reduce their high rate of mortality.
Bagnato et al. (2022) conducted a cohort in COVID-19 (n=175). New-onset atrial fibrillation vs. No atrial fibrillation was evaluated on 5-day mortality rate (RR 5.3, p=0.0014). New-onset atrial fibrillation in hospitalized COVID-19 patients was associated with a 5.3-fold increased risk of 5-day mortality compared to patients without atrial fibrillation (p=0.0014).
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