ECG changes in COVID-19

Aim To evaluate changes in 12-lead ECG in patients with coronavirus infection.Materials and methods This article describes signs of electrocardiographic right ventricular "stress" in patients with COVID-19. 150 ECGs of 75 COVID-19 patients were analyzed in the Institute of Cardiology of the National Medical Research Centre for Therapy and Preventive Medicine. The diagnosis was based on the clinical picture of community-acquired pneumonia, data of chest multispiral computed tomography, and a positive test for COVID-19. ECG was recorded both in 3-6 and in 12 leads. Signs of right ventricular (RV) stress, so-called systolic overload (high R and inverted TV1-3 and TII, III, aVF), and diastolic overload (RV wall hypertrophy and cavity dilatation; complete or incomplete right bundle branch block) were evaluated.Results The most common signs for impaired functioning of the right heart include emergence of the RV P wave phase (41.3 %), incomplete right bundle branch block (42.6 %), ECG of the SIQ IIITIII type (33.3 %) typical for thromboembolic complications, and signs of RV hypertrophy, primarily increased SV5-6 (14.7 %). These changes are either associated with signs of RV myocardial stress (16 %) or appear on the background of signs for diffuse hypoxia evident as tall, positive, sharp-ended T waves in most leads (28 %).Conclusion A conclusive, comprehensive assessment of the reversal of hemodynamic disorders and electrocardiographic dynamics in patients with COVID-19 will be possible later, when more data become available.