Abstract 9569: Increased Incidence of ECG Abnormalities in General Population during the Covid-19 Pandemic

Background: To examine influence of COVID-19 pandemic on cardiovascular system in general population, ECG changes during the COVID-19 pandemic period were compared with those before the pandemic period. Methods: Incidence of newly appeared ECG abnormalities (T wave abnormalities and ST-segment depression including minor changes, and abnormal Q wave) was evaluated in subjects 40 to 74 years of age who had 12-lead ECG recording in annual health checkup offered to adult citizens of Moriguchi city, Osaka, Japan in 2019 and 2020. The incidence was compared with that of those who received ECG recording in 2018 and 2019 as the control value before the COVID-19 pandemic. Those with history of cardiovascular disease, any T wave abnormality, any ST-segment depression, abnormal Q wave, left bundle brunch block, or pace-maker rhythm at baseline ECG were excluded. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed adjusted for age, sex, hypertension, current smoking, diabetes, drinking habit and hypercholesterolemia. Results: There were 5,221 (mean age 63±10, men 40%) subjects who received ECG recording in 2018 and 2019 and 4,100 (mean age 63±10, men 41%) subjects who received ECG recording in 2019 and 2020. The incidence of newly appeared T wave abnormalities was 5.2 %, ST-segment depression was 2.8 % and abnormal Q wave was 1.1 % from 2018 to 2019, whereas the incidence of newly appeared T wave abnormalities was 5.8 %, ST-segment depression was 4.3 % and abnormal Q wave was 1.7 % from 2019 to 2020. The incidence of ST-segment depression (odds ratio (OR)=1.59, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.27 to 1.98, p Conclusions: Increased incidence of ST-segment depression and abnormal Q wave was observed during the COVID-19 pandemic period.