Research Information System
16 th International Congress of Update in Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery , İzmir, Turkey, 30 October - 01 November 2020, pp.13
Background: Combination of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) carries
increased risk of corrected QT (QTc) prolongation and cardiac arrhythmias.
Objective: To characterize the ventricular repolarization indexes which are associated with malignant ventricular arrhythmias in patients
treated with hydroxychloroquine and concomitant azithromycin for COVID-19.
Method: A total of 81 patients who had hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin combination therapy due to possible or confirmed diagnosis
of COVID-19 were included in the study. Baseline and control electrocardiograms (before and after treatment) were analyzed
retrospectively. Tp-e interval, Tp-e / QT and Tp-e / QTc ratios, which are ventricular repolarization indexes, were calculated.
Results: While there was no significant increase in QTc interval in patients receiving combination therapy, there was a significant increase
in ventricular repolarization indexes.
Conclusion: The increase in ventricular replarization indexes is associated with the risk of arrhythmia. In patients using QTc prolonging
medication for COVID-19 treatment, only QTc monitoring may not be sufficient for follow-up for arrhythmia. Even if there is no
prolongation in QTc, an increase in ventricular repolarization indexes can be seen.
Key words: hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin, QTc prolongation, Tp-e, repolarization, arrhythmia