Table 1.
Baseline characteristics and presenting symptoms.
| Variable | Overall N = 238 |
Normal ECG N = 103 |
Abnormal ECG N = 135 |
SMD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | 62 ± 16 | 58 ± 15 | 65 ± 16 | 0.43 |
| Age > 60 | 52% (123/238) | 44% (45/103) | 58% (78/135) | 0.29 |
| Age > 70 | 32% (76/238) | 22% (23/103) | 39% (53/135) | 0.37 |
| Age > 80 | 14% (33/238) | 8.7% (9/103) | 18% (24/135) | 0.27 |
| Age > 90 | 1.7% (4/238) | 1.0% (1/103) | 2.2% (3/135) | 0.10 |
| Male sex % (n/N) | 74% (175/238) | 74% (76/103) | 73% (99/135) | 0.010 |
| BMI | 28 (24–31) | 28 (24–32) | 28 (24–30) | 0.20 |
| Comorbidities % (n/N) | ||||
| Diabetes | 23% (54/238) | 17% (17/103) | 27% (37/135) | 0.27 |
| Hypertension | 45% (108/238) | 36% (37/103) | 53% (71/135) | 0.34 |
| Hyperlipidemia | 16% (39/238) | 13% (13/103) | 19% (26/135) | 0.18 |
| IHD | 12% (28/238) | 6.8% (7/103) | 16% (21/135) | 0.28 |
| Prior AMI | 8.8% (21/238) | 5.8% (6/103) | 11% (15/135) | 0.19 |
| Prior stroke | 14% (32/237) | 8.7% (9/103) | 17% (23/134) | 0.25 |
| Prior VTE | 5.0% (12/238) | 3.9% (4/103) | 5.9% (8/135) | 0.095 |
| HFrEF | 3.8% (9/237) | 2.0% (2/102) | 5.2% (7/135) | 0.17 |
| HFpEF | 2.1% (5/238) | 0% (0/103) | 3.7% (5/135) | 0.28 |
| History of AF | 14% (33/238) | 6.8% (7/103) | 19% (26/135) | 0.38 |
| Peripheral artery disease | 1.3% (3/238) | 0% (0/103) | 2.2% (3/135) | 0.21 |
| COPD | 5.5% (13/238) | 4.9% (5/103) | 5.9% (8/135) | 0.047 |
| Astma | 5.9% (14/238) | 6.8% (7/103) | 5.2% (7/135) | 0.068 |
| CKD | 5.5% (13/238) | 1.0% (1/103) | 8.9% (12/135) | 0.37 |
| Active cancera | 5.0% (12/238) | 3.9% (4/103) | 5.9% (8/135) | 0.095 |
| Any dementiab | 2.9% (7/238) | 1.9% (2/103) | 3.7% (5/135) | 0.11 |
| Smokingc | 43% (51/119) | 40% (19/47) | 44% (32/72) | 0.081 |
| Medication at admission % (n/N) | ||||
| Beta-blockers | 25% (60/236) | 18% (18/103) | 32% (42/133) | 0.33 |
| Anti-arrhythmic agentd | 0.8% (2/236) | 0% (0/103) | 1.5% (2/133) | 0.18 |
| Digoxin | 0.8% (2/236) | 0% (1/103) | 1.5% (2/133) | 0.18 |
| Aspirin | 11% (27/236) | 6.8% (7/103) | 15% (20/133) | 0.27 |
| Warfarin | 2.5% (6/236) | 1.0% (1/103) | 3.8% (5/133) | 0.18 |
| DOAC | 11% (27/237) | 6.8% (7/103) | 15% (20/132) | 0.26 |
| ACE inhibitor | 21% (49/236) | 17% (17/103) | 24% (32/133) | 0.19 |
| ARB | 13% (30/236) | 12% (12/103) | 14% (18/133) | 0.057 |
| Calcium antagonist | 19% (44/236) | 17% (17/103) | 20% (27/133) | 0.098 |
| Statins | 28% (65/236) | 21% (22/103) | 32% (43/133) | 0.25 |
| P2Y12 inhibitor | 6.4% (15/236) | 1.9% (2/103) | 9.8% (13/133) | 0.34 |
| MRA | 2.5% (6/236) | 2.9% (3/103) | 2.3% (3/133) | 0.041 |
| Diuretics | 12% (29/236) | 5.8% (6/103) | 17% (23/133) | 0.37 |
| Oral antidiabetics | 18% (43/237) | 15% (15/103) | 21% (28/134) | 0.17 |
| Oral cortisone | 5.5% (13/237) | 4.9% (5/103) | 6.0% (8/134) | 0.059 |
| Symptoms and signs at admission | ||||
| Systolic BP (mmHg) | 127 ± 21 | 126 ± 21 | 128 ± 22 | 0.083 |
| Diastolic BP (mmHg) | 77 ± 14 | 79 ± 13 | 76 ± 14 | 0.235 |
| Heart rate (bpm) | 97 (82–110) | 93 (81–105) | 100 (84–112) | 0.261 |
| Respiratory rate (brpm) | 25 (20−30) | 25 (21−30) | 25 (20–30) | 0.092 |
| Saturation no oxygen % | 91 (85–94) | 91 (85–93) | 92 (85–95) | 0.028 |
| Oxygen at admissione | 71% (167/237) | 76% (77/102) | 67% (90/135) | 0.196 |
| Ct value (cycles) | 27 (23−30) | 28 (24–30) | 27 (22−30) | 0.110 |
| Fever % (n/N)f | 60% (138/232) | 63% (63/100) | 57% (75/132) | 0.13 |
| Cough | 79% (188/238) | 82% (84/103) | 77% (104/135) | 0.11 |
| Dyspnea | 69% (164/238) | 70% (72/103) | 68% (92/135) | 0.038 |
| Sore throat | 14% (33/238) | 16% (16/103) | 13% (17/135) | 0.085 |
| Nasal congestion | 3.0% (7/237) | 2.0% (2/102) | 3.7% (5/135) | 0.11 |
| Loss of smell | 7.6% (18/238) | 12% (12/103) | 4.4% (6/135) | 0.27 |
| Loss of taste | 7.1% (17/238) | 9.7% (10/103) | 5.2% (7/135) | 0.17 |
| Headache | 10% (24/238) | 12% (12/103) | 8.9% (12/135) | 0.091 |
| Chest pain | 11% (26/238) | 16% (16/103) | 7.4% (10/135) | 0.26 |
| Abdominal pain | 3.4% (8/238) | 3.9% (2/103) | 3.0% (2/135) | 0.051 |
| Vomiting | 8.0% (19/238) | 8.7% (9/103) | 7.4% (10/135) | 0.049 |
| Diarrhea | 14% (33/238) | 18% (18/103) | 11% (15/135) | 0.18 |
| Disorientationg | 10% (24/238) | 5.8% (6/103) | 13% (18/135) | 0.26 |
ECG = electrocardiogram; SMD = standardized mean difference; BMI = body mass index; IHD = ischemic heart disease; AMI = acute myocardial infarction; VTE = venous thromboembolism: HFrEF = heart failure reduced ejection fraction; HFpEF = heart failure preserved ejection fraction; AF = atrial fibrillation; COPD = chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; CKD = chronic kidney disease; DOAC = Direct-acting oral anticoagulant; ACE = angiotensin-converting enzyme; ARB = angiotensin receptor blocker; MRA = mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist; BP = blood pressure; bpm = beats per minute; brpm = breaths per minute; Ct value = cycle threshold value.
Missing data in continuous variables: BMI 44.5%; systolic BP 4.6%; diastolic BP 20%; heart rate 1.7%; respiratory rate 8%; saturation no oxygen 5%; Ct value 18%.
Any active cancer.
Any dementia diagnosis prior to admission.
Current or ex-smoker.
Non beta-blocker anti-arrhythmic medication.
Treated with oxygen or not treated with oxygen at admission.
Body temperature ≥ 38 degrees Celsius.
New disorientation aggravated previous disorientation.