TABLE 1.
Characteristics of patients monitored on cardiac telemetry.
| Without arrhythmia (n = 120) | With arrhythmia (n = 80) | p-value | |
| Age (years) | 65 (57.5–72.5) | 74.5 (68–80.5) | <0.0001 |
| Sex (M/F) | 72/48 | 51/29 | 0.29 |
| Obesity n (%) | 30 (25) | 18 (22.5) | 0.69 |
| Diabetes mellitus n (%) | 26 (21.7) | 24 (30) | 0.18 |
| Chronic liver disease n (%) | 14 (11.7) | 9 (11.3) | 0.93 |
| Chronic kidney disease n (%) | 8 (6.7) | 14 (17.5) | 0.02 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease n (%) | 12 (10.0) | 19 (23.7) | 0.008 |
| Current tobacco n (%) | 52 (43.3) | 38 (47.5) | 0.56 |
| Hyperlipidemia n (%) | 17 (14.2) | 8 (10) | 0.38 |
| Autoimmune disease n (%) | 10 (8.3) | 6 (7.5) | 0.83 |
| Active malignancy n (%) | 5 (4.2) | 3 (3.7) | 0.88 |
| Prior organ transplantation n (%) | 0 (0) | 4 (5) | – |
| Rare disease n (%) | 3 (2.5) | 7 (8.8) | 0.047 |
| Arterial hypertension n (%) | 59 (49.2) | 55 (68.7) | 0.006 |
| Coronary artery disease n (%) | 7 (5.8) | 22 (27.5) | <0.0001 |
| Heart failure n (%) | 1 (0.8) | 12 (15) | <0.0001 |
| Any previous arrhythmia n (%) | 12 (10) | 34 (42.5) | <0.0001 |
| ICD/PPM n (%) | 0 (0) | 10 (12.5) | – |
| Comorbidities | 3 (1–4) | 3 (2–4) | <0.0001 |
| Instrumental/Laboratory findings | |||
| Left ventricle ejection fraction (%) | 57 (54–60) | 53 (50–57) | 0.53 |
| Sodium (mmol/l) | 138 (136–140) | 137 (135–140) | 0.03 |
| Potassium (mmol/l) | 4.2 (3.9–4.5) | 4.2 (3.8–4.6) | 0.99 |
| Magnesium (mmol/l) | 2.1 (1.9–2.2) | 1.9 (1.8–2.1) | 0.04 |
| Calcium (mg/dl) | 8.7 (8.4–9.0) | 8.7 (8.4–9.0) | 0.81 |
| Creatinine (mg/dl) | 0.80 (0.72–0.87) | 0.93 (0.70–1.17) | 0.007 |
| Glomerular filtration rate (ml/min) | 94.5 (79.3–103.0) | 72.1 (49.0–89.1) | <0.0001 |
| B-type natriuretic peptide (pg/ml) | 11.0 (8.0–25.0) | 84.5 (24.0–221.0) | <0.0001 |
| Troponin (ng/ml) | 2.0 (2.0–5.0) | 10.0 (4.0–27.8) | <0.0001 |
| C-reactive protein (mg/dl) | 3.93 (1.44–8.69) | 6.24 (2.57–12.50) | 0.01 |
| Ferritin (ng/ml) | 398.0 (208.5–911.5) | 844.5 (479.0–1175.0) | 0.001 |
| Interleukin-6 (pg/ml) | 12.6 (8.2–30.0) | 30.0 (22.7–41.5) | 0.06 |
| D-dimer (ng/ml) | 400 (200–760) | 830 (350–1440) | <0.0001 |
| Procalcitonin (ng/ml) | 0.05 (0.02–0.10) | 0.11 (0.03–0.39) | 0.0008 |
| White blood cells (cells/μl) | 7,340 (5,600–9,655) | 8,040 (4,850–11,570) | 0.40 |
| Hemoglobin (g/dl) | 13.8 (12.8–14.8) | 13.1 (9.7–14.2) | 0.008 |
| In-hospital medication | |||
| Azithromycin n (%) | 17 (14.2) | 14 (17.5) | 0.52 |
| Quinolones n (%) | 10 (8.3) | 7 (8.8) | 0.91 |
| Haloperidol n (%) | 3 (2.5) | 3 (3.7) | 0.61 |
| Remdesivir n (%) | 50 (41.7) | 26 (32.5) | 0.19 |
| Tocilizumab n (%) | 8 (6.7) | 10 (12.5) | 0.16 |
| Hydroxychloroquine n (%) | 3 (2.5) | 3 (3.7) | 0.61 |
| Dexamethasone n (%) | 84 (70) | 61 (76.3) | 0.33 |
| Low-molecular-weight heparin n (%) | 114 (95) | 75 (93.7) | 0.77 |
Values are presented as median (interquartile range) or as n (%). ICD/PPM, implantable cardioverter-defibrillator/permanent pacemaker.