Abstract
Background: The liberal administration of hydroxychloroquine-sulphate (HCQ) to COVID-19 patients has raised concern regarding the risk of QTc prolongation and cardiac arrhythmias, particularly when prescribed with azithromycin. We evaluated the incidence of QTc prolongation among moderately and severely ill COVID-19 patients treated with HCQ and of the existence of concomitant alternative causes.
Methods: All COVID-19 patients treated with HCQ (between Mar 1 and Apr 14, 2020) in a tertiary medical centre were included. Clinical characteristics and relevant risk factors were collected from the electronic medical records. Individual patient QTc intervals were determined before and after treatment with HCQ. The primary outcome measure sought was a composite end point comprised of either an increase ≥60 milliseconds (ms) in the QTc interval compared with pre-treatment QTc, and/or a maximal QTc interval >500 ms RESULTS: Ninety patients were included. Median age was 65 years (IQR 55-75) and 57 (63%) were male. Thirty-nine patients (43%) were severely or critically ill. Hypertension and obesity were common (n = 23 each, 26%). QTc prolongation evolved in 14 patients (16%). Age >65 years, congestive heart failure, severity of disease, C-reactive protein level, hypokalaemia and furosemide treatment, were all associated with QTc prolongation. Adjusted analysis showed that QTc prolongation was five times more likely with hypokalaemia [OR 5, (95% CI, 1.3-20)], and three times more likely with furosemide treatment [OR 3 (95% CI, 1.01-13.7)].
Conclusion: In patients treated with HCQ, QTc prolongation was associated with the presence of traditional risk factors such as hypokalaemia and furosemide treatment.
【초록키워드】 Treatment, obesity, C-reactive protein, risk, risk factor, Critically ill, Characteristics, clinical, male, Patient, age, HCQ, congestive heart failure, Severity of disease, incidence, electronic medical records, QTc, QTC prolongation, administration, Analysis, COVID-19 patient, cardiac arrhythmias, QTc interval, 95% CI, causes, individual, primary outcome measure, end point, FIVE, collected, evaluated, raised, treated, IQR, liberal, patients treated, 【제목키워드】 COVID-19, Hydroxychloroquine, QTC prolongation,