Table 1.
Clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients with (n = 42) and without (n = 59) relative bradycardia at hospital admission
| Characteristics | All subjects n = 101 |
Subjects with relative bradycardia n = 42 |
Subjects without relative bradycardia n = 59 |
p |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age, years, median (IQR) | 63 (52–75) | 68 (56–81) | 60.5 (50–69) | 0.019 |
| Sex, n | 67M, 34F | 30M, 12F | 37M, 22F | 0.36 |
| Duration of symptoms, days, median (IQR) | 6.8 (4–10) | 5 (2.8–8) | 7 (4.5–10) | 0.06 |
| Body Temperature, °C, median (IQR) | 38.6 (38.4–38.8) | 38.8 (38.6–38.9) | 38.4 (38.3–38.6) | 0.0001 |
| Heart rate, bpm, median (IQR) | 98 (86–110) | 83.5 (77–89) | 110 (100–115) | <0.0001 |
| PaO2/FiO2, median (IQR) | 335 (300–414) | 338 (290–433) | 328 (305–385) | 0.655 |
| Severe illnessa, n (%) | 23 (22.7%) | 12 (28.5) | 11 (18.6) | 0.241 |
| Laboratory analyses, median (IQR) | ||||
| Haemoglobin, g/dL | 13.5 (12.5–14.5) | 13.3 (12–14.3) | 13.8 (12.2–14.6) | 0.332 |
| White blood cells, ×106/L | 5820 (4435–8160) | 6200 (4720–8180) | 5650 (4340–8150) | 0.333 |
| Neutrophils, ×106/L | 4515 (3165–6525) | 4695 (3410–6240) | 4060 (3030–6760) | 0.475 |
| Lymphocytes, ×106/L | 705 (550–1065) | 725 (560–1300) | 670 (540–1050) | 0.131 |
| N/L ratio, n | 5.4 (3.8–8.9) | 5.13 (3.23–8.64) | 5.4 (3.95–9.11) | 0.688 |
| Platelets, ×109/L | 196 (156–240) | 186 (143–231) | 198 (164–247) | 0.705 |
| Albumin, g/dL | 3.7 (3.3–4.1) | 3.7 (3.3–4.1) | 3.7 (3.3–4.1) | 0.703 |
| D-dimer, μg/L | 783 (537–1690) | 1002 (571–2115) | 742 (521–1493) | 0.162 |
| C-reactive protein, mg/dL | 7.7 (3.1–13.9) | 7.71 (2.96–13.91) | 7.71 (3.11–13.9) | 0.819 |
| Comorbidities, n (%) | ||||
| Diabetes mellitus | 22 (21.7) | 8 (19) | 14 (23.7) | 0.648 |
| Hypertension | 43 (42.5) | 18 (42.8) | 25 (42.3) | 0.937 |
| COPD | 14 (13.8) | 6 (14.2) | 8 (13.5) | 0.906 |
| Cancer | 11 (10.8) | 7 (16.6) | 4 (6.7) | 0.282 |
| Symptoms, n (%) | ||||
| Cough | 60 (59.4) | 21 (50) | 39 (66.1) | 0.104 |
| Dyspnoea | 53 (52.4) | 23 (54.7) | 30 (50.8) | 0.692 |
| Diarrhoea | 18 (17.8) | 6 (14.2) | 12 (20.3) | 0.433 |
| Duration of stay in the ER, hours, median (IQR) | 8 (5–11) | 7.5 (5.2–10.75) | 8.5 (3.75–11.5) | 0.687 |
| Therapies, n (%) | ||||
| Hydroxychloroquine | 68 (67.3) | 25 (59.5) | 43 (72.8) | 0.164 |
| Azithromycin | 53 (52.4) | 23 (54.7) | 30 (50.8) | 0.435 |
| Protease inhibitors | 30 (29.7) | 10 (23.8) | 20 (33.8) | 0.415 |
| Tocilizumab | 36 (35.6) | 10 (23.8) | 26 (44.0) | 0.083 |
| Corticosteroids | 46 (45.5) | 20 (47.6) | 26 (44.0) | 0.590 |
| Enoxaparin | 51 (50.4) | 21 (50.0) | 30 (50.8) | 0.287 |
| Outcomes, n (%) | ||||
| ICU admission | 10 (9.9) | 4 (9.5) | 6 (10.1) | 0.915 |
| In-hospital mortality | 16 (15.8) | 7 (16.6) | 9 (15.2) | 0.848 |
Data are given as medians with interquartile ranges (IQR) or as means for continuous variables and as simple frequencies, proportions, and percentages for categorical variables. Mann–Whitney test was used for unpaired samples. Dichotomous variables were compared using Fisher or chi-squared test statistics, as appropriate. All statistical analyses were performed with STATA/IC software (StataCorp) version 15.N/L, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; ICU, Intensive Care Unit. ER, Emergency Room.
Severe illness was defined according to NIH-COVID-19 criteria as SpO2 <94% on room air at sea level, a ratio of arterial partial pressure of oxygen to fraction of inspired oxygen (PaO2/FiO2) <300 mmHg, respiratory frequency >30 breaths/min or lung infiltrates >50% (available at https://www.covid19treatmentguidelines.nih.gov/overview/clinical-spectrum/).