The inciting factor for bradycardia in COVID-19 patients: a potential harm of steroid treatment.

Background

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a condition caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Although several papers have reported the presence bradycardia in patients with COVID-19, the pathophysiology behind this remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated the presence of bradycardia in patients with COVID-19.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study in a total of 153 patients with COVID-19 and 90 patients with influenza who were hospitalized in our hospital from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2021 and from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2021, respectively. Data were collected from patient medical records, which included sex, age, duration of hospitalization, pneumonia complications, supplemental oxygen therapy, antiviral treatment, past history, and vital signs.

Results

After adjustment, the incidence of bradycardia and steroid use in patients with COVID-19 were significantly higher than those in patients with influenza (P=0.007 and P<0.001, respectively). We then compared the detailed characteristics of patients with COVID-19 to evaluate risk factors for bradycardia. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that steroid use was significantly related to bradycardia [P=0.031; odds ratio (OR): 3.67; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.12-11.96]. Overall, results showed a higher incidence of bradycardia in patients with COVID-19 who received steroid treatment.

Conclusions

Our results showed that steroid treatment in patients with COVID-19 may be associated with the incidence of bradycardia.

Informations de copyright

2024 Journal of Thoracic Disease. All rights reserved.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://jtd.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/jtd-23-1382/coif). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.