Effects of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin use on ECG parameters due to COVID-19 in pediatric patient population

Aim: Due to COVID-19 infection, the use of two drugs, hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin, with a high potential for arrhythmia, came to the fore in the pediatric patient group at the beginning of 2020, during the search for treatment. The aim is to reveal the synergistic arrhythmic effects of these two drugs in prolonging the QT interval on the ECG. Materials and Methods: First of all, patients taking hydroxychloroquine were identified. Demographic data of these patients were recorded. In addition to hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin and other treatments they used were also recorded. Those with ECG data were selected. Transmyocardial repolarization parameters calculated by ECG were calculated retrospectively (QT, QTc, Tpe, Tpe/QT, Tpe/QTc). Then, laboratory findings and radiological imaging of these patients were recorded. Results: Twenty-three pediatric patients who met the study criteria were identified. All of the patients were asymptomatic or mild disease. When initial and post-drug ECG parameters were compared; It was observed that the drugs did not have a significant arrhythmogenic effect on ECG parameters, especially QT interval and QTc. Conclusion: Unlike the literature showing arrhythmic effects of these drugs in adult COVID-19 disease, hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin did not show such an effect in the pediatric population.