Atrial electromechanical delay is impaired in patients with COVID-19

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 infection has the potential to affect the cardiovascular system. Intra/ interatrial electromechanical delay (EMD) demonstrated by P wave dispersion (PD) and tissue doppler echocardiography (TDE) is related to the development of atrial fibrillation. This study aimed to investigate atrial conduction time by PD and TDE in patients with COVID-19. Material and Method: A total of 143 participants were selected in the current study. The COVID-19 group included 90 subjects and the control group included 53 individuals. Two groups were compared with each other, in terms of electrocardiographic P wave measurements, and atrial electromechanical coupling (AEC) parameters by TDE. Results: Maximum P-wave duration (Pmax) and PD were significantly higher in COVID-19 patients compared to the control group (p<0.001, for both). Interatrial and intraatrial EMD were also longer in the COVID-19 patients compared to control group (p<0.001, for both). Correlation analysis revealed a significant and positive correlation between CRP with Pmax, PD, interatrial and intraatrial EMD (r=0.608, p <0.001; r=0.708, p<0.001; r=0.692, p<0.001; r=0.697, p<0.001, respectively). Besides, a positive and significant relationship was also found between the interatrial and intraatrial EMD with PD and Pmax (p<0.001, for all). Conclusion: Atrial EMD parameters were prolonged in patients with COVID-19. The measurement of atrial EMD parameters might be used to determine the risk of AF development in patients with COVID-19.

Keywords

• Atrial fibrillation
• COVID-19
• Atrial electromechanical delay

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