Aims The aim of the study was to describe ECG modifications and arrhythmic events in COVID-19 patients undergoing hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) therapy in different clinical settings. Methods COVID-19 patients at seven institutions receiving HCQ therapy from whom a baseline and at least one ECG at and results 48þ h were available were enrolled in the study. QT/QTc prolongation, QT-associated and QT-independent arrhythmic events, arrhythmic mortality, and overall mortality during HCQ therapy were assessed. A total of 649 COVID-19 patients (61.9 ± 18.7 years, 46.1% males) were enrolled. HCQ therapy was administrated as a home therapy regimen in 126 (19.4%) patients, and as an in-hospital-treatment to 495 (76.3%) hospitalized and 28 (4.3%) intensive care unit (ICU) patients. At 36–72 and at 96þ h after the first HCQ dose, 358 and 404 ECGs were obtained, respectively. A significant QT/QTc interval prolongation was observed (P < 0.001), but the magnitude of the increase was modest [þ13 (9–16) ms]. Baseline QT/QTc length and presence of fever (P = 0.001) at admission represented the most important determinants of QT/QTc prolongation. No arrhythmic-related deaths were reported. The overall major ventricular arrhythmia rate was low (1.1%), with all events found not to be related to QT or HCQ therapy at a centralized event evaluation. No differences in QT/QTc prolongation and QT-related arrhythmias were observed across different clinical settings, with non-QT-related arrhythmias being more common in the intensive care setting. Conclusion HCQ administration is safe for a short-term treatment for patients with COVID-19 infection regardless of the clinical setting of delivery, causing only modest QTc prolongation and no directly attributable arrhythmic deaths.

Arrhythmic safety of hydroxychloroquine in COVID-19 patients from different clinical settings / Gasperetti A.; Biffi M.; Duru F.; Schiavone M.; Ziacchi M.; Mitacchione G.; Lavalle C.; Saguner A.; Lanfranchi A.; Casalini G.; Tocci M.; Fabbricatore D.; Salghetti F.; Mariani M.V.; Busana M.; Bellia A.; Cogliati C.B.; Viale P.; Antinori S.; Galli M.; Galie N.; Tondo C.; Forleo G.B.. - In: EUROPACE. - ISSN 1099-5129. - STAMPA. - 22:12(2020), pp. 1855-1863. [10.1093/europace/euaa216]

Arrhythmic safety of hydroxychloroquine in COVID-19 patients from different clinical settings

Ziacchi M.;Viale P.;Galie N.;
2020

Abstract

Aims The aim of the study was to describe ECG modifications and arrhythmic events in COVID-19 patients undergoing hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) therapy in different clinical settings. Methods COVID-19 patients at seven institutions receiving HCQ therapy from whom a baseline and at least one ECG at and results 48þ h were available were enrolled in the study. QT/QTc prolongation, QT-associated and QT-independent arrhythmic events, arrhythmic mortality, and overall mortality during HCQ therapy were assessed. A total of 649 COVID-19 patients (61.9 ± 18.7 years, 46.1% males) were enrolled. HCQ therapy was administrated as a home therapy regimen in 126 (19.4%) patients, and as an in-hospital-treatment to 495 (76.3%) hospitalized and 28 (4.3%) intensive care unit (ICU) patients. At 36–72 and at 96þ h after the first HCQ dose, 358 and 404 ECGs were obtained, respectively. A significant QT/QTc interval prolongation was observed (P < 0.001), but the magnitude of the increase was modest [þ13 (9–16) ms]. Baseline QT/QTc length and presence of fever (P = 0.001) at admission represented the most important determinants of QT/QTc prolongation. No arrhythmic-related deaths were reported. The overall major ventricular arrhythmia rate was low (1.1%), with all events found not to be related to QT or HCQ therapy at a centralized event evaluation. No differences in QT/QTc prolongation and QT-related arrhythmias were observed across different clinical settings, with non-QT-related arrhythmias being more common in the intensive care setting. Conclusion HCQ administration is safe for a short-term treatment for patients with COVID-19 infection regardless of the clinical setting of delivery, causing only modest QTc prolongation and no directly attributable arrhythmic deaths.
2020
Arrhythmic safety of hydroxychloroquine in COVID-19 patients from different clinical settings / Gasperetti A.; Biffi M.; Duru F.; Schiavone M.; Ziacchi M.; Mitacchione G.; Lavalle C.; Saguner A.; Lanfranchi A.; Casalini G.; Tocci M.; Fabbricatore D.; Salghetti F.; Mariani M.V.; Busana M.; Bellia A.; Cogliati C.B.; Viale P.; Antinori S.; Galli M.; Galie N.; Tondo C.; Forleo G.B.. - In: EUROPACE. - ISSN 1099-5129. - STAMPA. - 22:12(2020), pp. 1855-1863. [10.1093/europace/euaa216]
Gasperetti A.; Biffi M.; Duru F.; Schiavone M.; Ziacchi M.; Mitacchione G.; Lavalle C.; Saguner A.; Lanfranchi A.; Casalini G.; Tocci M.; Fabbricatore D.; Salghetti F.; Mariani M.V.; Busana M.; Bellia A.; Cogliati C.B.; Viale P.; Antinori S.; Galli M.; Galie N.; Tondo C.; Forleo G.B.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11585/863655
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