Table 3.
Comparison of baseline characteristics, clinical presentation, treatment, and outcome between patients with and without QTc prolongation during hospitalization.
| No QTc Prolongation (n = 77) |
QTc Prolongation (n = 168) |
p-Value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 32 (41.6) | 61 (36.3) | 0.43 |
| Age, years | 62.1 ± 17.4 | 65.4 ± 15.0 | 0.14 |
| Diabetes | 10 (13) | 40 (23.8) | 0.051 |
| Hypertension | 32 (41.6) | 96 (57.1) | 0.023 |
| Dyslipidemia | 21 (27.3) | 65 (38.7) | 0.082 |
| Obesity | 13 (22.4) | 42 (28.8) | 0.36 |
| Ischemic chronic disease | 8 (10.4) | 14 (8.3) | 0.60 |
| Atrial fibrillation or flutter | 7 (9.1) | 23 (13.7) | 0.31 |
| Heart failure | 4 (5.2) | 10 (6.0) | 0.54 |
| Moderate to severe valve heart disease | 2 (2.6) | 6 (3.6) | 0.54 |
| COPD | 4 (5.2) | 21 (12.5) | 0.058 |
| Cancer | 13 (16.9) | 29 (17.3) | 0.94 |
| CKD | 5 (5.2) | 14 (8.3) | 0.28 |
| Peripheral vascular disease | 7 (9.1) | 5 (3.0) | 0.04 |
| Stroke | 2 (2.6) | 13 (7.7) | 0.097 |
| Systolic blood pressure, mmHg | 123.0 ± 18.8 | 128.4 ± 19.6 | 0.074 |
| Diastolic blood pressure, mmHg | 76.2 ± 14.7 | 75.2 ± 14.0 | 0.60 |
| Heart rate, bpm | 89.0 ± 15.0 | 91.2 ± 20.6 | 0.35 |
| Respiratory rate, rpm | 24.4 ± 6.4 | 26.2 ± 7.8 | 0.13 |
| Oxygen saturation, % | 95.9 ± 2.9 | 93.2 ± 6.3 | <0.001 |
| Baseline FiO2, % | 24.9 ± 14.3 | 30.4 ± 22.3 | 0.022 |
| PaO2/FiO2 < 300, n (%) | 12 (21.4) | 82 (58.2) | <0.001 |
| Hemoglobin, g/dL | 13.4 ± 1.5 | 13.6 ± 1.7 | 0.36 |
| White blood cell count, per µL | 6.3 ± 2.2 | 7.8 ± 3.6 | <0.001 |
| Lymphocytes, per µL | 1.56 ± 2.60 | 1.37 ± 1.81 | 0.51 |
| Platelet count | 205.1 ± 72.6 | 202.6 ± 75.0 | 0.81 |
| Creatinine, mg/dL | 1.04 ± 0.51 | 1.15 ± 0.73 | 0.26 |
| eGFR, mL/min/1.73 m2 | 81.1 ± 28.9 | 77.3 ± 29.7 | 0.34 |
| Creatine phosphokinase, U/L | 82 (50–156) | 108 (63–181) | 0.051 |
| Serum lactate, mmoL/L | 1.35 ± 0.59 | 1.55 ± 0.70 | 0.04 |
| CRP, mg/dL | 8.5 ± 7.7 | 11.6 ± 9.7 | 0.009 |
| Procalcitonin, ng/mL | 0.12 (0.07–0.17) | 0.13 (0.08–0.25) | 0.31 |
| Lactate dehydrogenase, U/L | 293.0 ± 92.5 | 348.8 ± 151.2 | 0.01 |
| D-dimer, ng/mL | 630 (410–940) | 760 (470–1240) | 0.027 |
| High sensitivity troponin T > 14 ng/L | 20 (33.9) | 60 (41.4) | 0.34 |
| NT-proBNP, pg/mL | 145 (42–303) | 246 (76–756) | 0.014 |
| Baseline QTc duration, milliseconds | 441.8 ± 38.5 | 435.38 ± 31.6 | 0.17 |
| Baseline QTc ≥ 480 ms | 8 (10.4) | 20 (11.9) | 0.73 |
| Abnormal chest radiography | 69 (90.8) | 156 (92.9) | 0.58 |
| Tocilizumab | 14 (18.2) | 54 (32.1) | 0.023 |
| No hydroxychloroquine or azithromycin | 6 (7.8) | 1 (0.6) | 0.015 |
| Hydroxychloroquine alone | 2 (2.6) | 1 (1.8) | |
| Azithromycin alone | 1 (1.3) | 1 (0.6) | |
| Hydroxychloroquine + Azithromycin | 68 (88.3) | 163 (97.0) | |
| Oxygen support | 46 (59.7) | 91 (54.2) | <0.001 |
| High Flow Nasal Cannula | 2 (2.6) | 5 (3.0) | |
| Non-invasive ventilation | 1 (1.3) | 16 (9.5) | |
| Intubation and invasive ventilation | 1 (1.3) | 37 (22.0) | |
| Longest QTc duration, milliseconds | 440.4 ± 37.9 | 476.3 ± 48.9 | <0.001 |
| Length of hospitalization, days | 10 (6–18) | 17 (9–29.5) | <0.001 |
| Dead | 5 (6.5) | 25 (14.9) | 0.045 |
Results are expressed as mean ± standard deviation, median and (interquartile range) or number and (percentage). COPD: chronic obstruction pulmonary disease, CKD: chronic kidney disease, CRP: C-reactive protein. eGFR: estimated glomerular filtration rate.