No abstract

Electrocardiographic (ECG) changes have been investigated in the condition of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) indicating that COVID-19 infection exacerbates arrhythmias and triggers conduction abnormalities. However, the specific type of ECG abnormalities in COVID-19 and their impact on mortality fail to have been fully elucidated. The present retrospective, tertiary care hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted by reviewing the medical records of all patients diagnosed with COVID-19 infection who were admitted to Booali Sina Hospital in Qazvin, Iran from March to July 2020. Demographic information, length of hospital stay, treatment outcome, and electrocardiographic information (heart rate, QTc interval, arrhythmias, and blocks) were extracted from the medical records of the patients. Finally, a total of 231 patients were enrolled in the study. Atrial fibrillation was a common arrhythmia, and the left anterior fascicular block was a common cardiac conduction defect other than sinus arrhythmia. The deceased patients were significantly older than the recovered ones (71 ± 14 vs. 57 ± 16 years, p < 0.001). Longer hospital stay (p = 0.036), non-sinus rhythm (p < 0.001), bundle and node blocks (p = 0.002), ST-T waves changes (p = 0.003), and Tachycardia (p = 0.024) were significantly prevalent in the deceased group. In baseline ECGs, no significant difference was observed in terms of the absolute size of QT; however, a prolonged QTc in the deceased was about twice of the recovered patients (using Bazett, Sagie, and Fridericia’s formula). Serial ECGs are recommended to be taken from all hospitalized patients with COVID-19 due to increased in-hospital mortality in patients with prolonged QTc interval, non-sinus rhythms, ST-T changes, tachycardia, and bundle, and node blocks.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) comprises a group of conditions that happen together and increase the risk of heart disorders. MetS has known characteristic diagnostic criteria and is diagnosed through physical examination and blood tests. This syndrome is extremely prevalent in patients with acute myocardial infarction. We aimed to determine the prevalence of MetS and its relationship with myocardial infarction and response to treatment in patients suffering from acute myocardial infarction under fibrinolytic treatment. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 145 patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) were enrolled. They were referred to Bu-Ali Sina Hospital in Qazvin, Iran, between January 2018 and January 2019 and were candidates for thrombolytic therapy. The patients were divided into two groups with and without MetS according to the NCEP ATP III definition (the National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III). In each group, the ST resolution of more than 50% in electrocardiogram was evaluated 90 minutes after thrombolytic administration. In addition, angiographic information and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were compared between the two groups. Results: Overall, the prevalence of MetS was 57.2% in the study population. After treatment, ST-segment resolution of more than 50%, the number of involved coronary vessels, the thrombolysis in myocardial infarction flow grade, mean LVEF, and type of myocardial infarction were similar in both study groups. Conclusion: Our study indicates that MetS does not affect the response rate to thrombolytic treatment.

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is one of the most common nutritional deficiencies. Cardiovascular disease patients are also prone to this condition. Recently, a relationship between vitamin D deficiency and cardiovascular diseases has been suggested. This study aims to compare the relationship between ventricular systolic function and vitamin D deficiency. Methods: This study investigated patients without obvious coronary artery disease between 2020 and 2021. First, vitamin D levels were measured in the patients. Then, they were divided into two groups based on a 30 ng/dl cut-off point. All patients underwent echocardiography and ventricular systolic function parameters were evaluated and compared. Results: In this study, 27 patients with normal vitamin D levels and 47 patients with vitamin D deficiency entered the study. There was no significant difference in demographic variables and underlying diseases between these two groups. There was no significant difference between left ventricular (LV) systolic function parameters including ejection fraction (EF), and LV end-systolic/diastolic volume. No significant difference was also observed between right ventricular (RV) systolic function parameters including Tricuspid Annular Plane Systolic Excursion (TAPSE), RV fractional area change (RVFAC), Right ventricular systolic velocity (RVSM) in tissue Doppler echocardiography as well as RV diastolic parameters such as A, E, E´, deceleration time (DT), right atrial volume (RAVi) as a precursor of right ventricular systolic dysfunction groups. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, there is no relationship between vitamin D levels and ventricular systolic dysfunction.