Association between tachyarrhythmia and mortality in a cohort of critically ill patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular involvement manifesting as arrhythmias has been confirmed in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), so we aimed to explore the association between primary tachyarrhythmia and death in critically ill patients with COVID-19 in this retrospective study. METHODS: A total of 79 critically ill patients with COVID-19 were included. Demographic characteristics, clinical data (past history, vital signs, therapeutic management, and outcomes), and results of laboratory findings and cardiac investigations were collected. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 23.0 software (IBM, Armonk, NY, USA). RESULTS: The median age was 65±12 years, and 53 patients (67%) were male. A total of 57 (72%) patients died, and compared with survivors, these patients were older and had significantly higher Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score and fewer lymphocytes as well as higher heart rate (P