Ventricular repolarization indexes in patients treated with hydroxychloroquine – azithromycin combination for COVID-19

Abstract

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 because of possible or reverse-transcription polymertase chain reaction (RT-PCR) 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, QTc monitoring alone may not be sufficient to follow-up for arrhythmia. Even if there is no prolongation in QTc, an increase in ventricular repolarization indexes may be seen.