OUTPATIENT CARDIAC MONITORING TO DETERMINE ARRHYTHMIC BURDEN AFTER COVID-19 HOSPITALIZATION

Background:

Recent studies have suggested an increased risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Data is limited regarding whether the risk of developing arrhythmias remains elevated following hospital discharge.

Methods:

A subset of patients hospitalized with a positive COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction test between November 1, 2020 and January 1, 2021 at Northwell University Hospital willing to participate received a 30-day mobile cardiac telemetry (MCT) monitoring system upon hospital discharge. Reports were reviewed and patients were contacted weekly by the study team.

Results:

A total of 29 patients underwent 30-day MCT monitoring. Mean age was 64.5 ± 13.1 and a total of 44.9% were female. The mean heart rate was 76 ± 8.3 bpm. Two patients had an average HR > 90 bpm. Four patients with a prior diagnosis of AF demonstrated a high burden of ongoing AF. One patient had a new diagnosis of AF during hospitalization and demonstrated a 20% AF burden on MCT, only occurring in the first 7 days before subsiding. No patients had a new diagnosis of AF on MCT during the study period. Three patients had a premature ventricular contraction burden of over 10% that occurred during the first 14 days of monitoring, of which two of these patients had underlying coronary artery disease. Three patients had episodes of non-sustained ventricular tachycardia, and two patients had single episodes of non-sustained supraventricular tachycardia. There were no life-threatening arrhythmias or heart block.

Conclusion:

In a single center observational study, patients hospitalized with COVID-19 did not show significant arrhythmic burden on 30-day MCT monitoring post hospital discharge. While arrhythmia risk may be elevated in acute COVID-19 infection requiring hospitalization, the risk of atrial fibrillation may not extend post discharge.