Key result
The COVID-19 lockdown was associated with higher rates of ventricular tachyarrhythmias (4.8% vs 2.3%, p<0.04) and new-onset atrial fibrillation (8.2% vs 5.2%, p<0.004) compared to 2019.
Why the study?
The study aimed to evaluate the incidence of cardiac arrhythmias during a COVID-19 pandemic lockdown period in patients followed by remote monitoring through implanted cardiac defibrillators.
Does the COVID-19 lockdown period increase the incidence of cardiac arrhythmias in patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators?
Cohort (n=574)
Yes
Does the COVID-19 lockdown period increase the incidence of cardiac arrhythmias in patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators?
Absolute Event Rate: 4.8% vs 2.3%
p-value: p=<0.04
The COVID-19 lockdown period was associated with a significantly higher incidence of ventricular tachyarrhythmias and new-onset atrial fibrillation in patients with implantable defibrillators.
May warrant closer arrhythmia surveillance during lockdowns in ICD patients; hypothesis-generating and requires prospective confirmation.
Aims to evaluate the incidence of cardiac arrhythmias during a lockdown period due to COVID-19 pandemics in a population followed by remote monitoring through implanted cardiac defibrillators. Methods and results In this retrospective, multicentre cohort study, we included 574 remotely monitored automatic (AICD) and cardiac resynchronization devices (CRT-D) recipients implanted before January 1st 2019 at seven Hospitals of Campania Region, comparing the incidence of arrhythmias occurred during the lockdown period due to COVID-19 epidemics (from March 9th to May 1st 2020) with the arrhythmias rate of the corresponding period in 2019. An effective retrospective data collection was performed through remote monitoring, as this tool allows the direct transfer of the the information stored by the implantable devices to medical personnel. During the lockdown period, we observed ventricular tachyarrhythmias (ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation) in 25 (4.8%) patients as compared to 12 (2.3%) during the corresponding 2019 period (p < 0.04); new-onset atrial fibrillation was detected in 38 (8.2%) subjects during lockdown period and in 24 (5.2%) during the reference period (p < 0.004). Conclusion During pandemics lockdown period we observed an higher incidence of arrhythmic events in ICD/CRT-D patients followed up through device remote monitoring by seven hospitals of Campania region.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Ducceschi et al. (2021) conducted a cohort in Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators (n=574). COVID-19 lockdown vs. Corresponding period in 2019 was evaluated on Ventricular tachyarrhythmias (ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation) (p=<0.04). The COVID-19 lockdown was associated with higher rates of ventricular tachyarrhythmias (4.8% vs 2.3%, p<0.04) and new-onset atrial fibrillation (8.2% vs 5.2%, p<0.004) compared to 2019.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: