Effects of novel coronavirus infection on electrocardiogram in patients attending cardiovascular outpatient clinic
Yin Rongrong
Li Gang
Wang Xi
Han Zhihong
Ren Xuejun
Abstract：Objective To explore the relationship between novel coronavirus infection(COVID-19)and electrocardiographic abnormalities,so as to provide evidence for the early diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19-related myocardial injury.Methods A retrospective parallel controlled study was conducted.A total of 1 801 outpatients who underwent electrocardiography without COVID-19 admitted to Beijing Anzhen Hospital,Capital Medical University from December 7 to December 14,2021 were enrolled as the non-infected group,and 631 outpatients with confirmed COVID-19 receiving electrocardiographic examination from December 7 to December 14,2022 were enrolled as the infected group.General electrocardiographic indicators such as P wave and QRS wave,electrocardiographic diagnosis,and the incidence of arrhythmia were compared between the two groups.Subgroup analysis was performed according to the presence or absence of arrhythmia.Results There were no significant differences in age and gender between the infected group and the non-infected group(both P＞0.05).The P wave duration,PR interval,QRS duration,QT interval and QTc interval in the infected group were significantly prolonged compared with the non-infected group(all P＜0.05).The proportion of sinus rhythm in the infected group was lower[74.3％(469/631)vs 80.5％(1 449/1 801)](P＜0.05),while the proportions of sinus tachycardia and atrial fibrillation were higher[7.0％(44/631)vs 3.8％(69/1 801),6.2％(39/631)vs 3.9％(70/1 801)](both P＜0.05).Subgroup analysis showed that among patients with sinus rhythm,P wave duration,PR interval,QRS duration and QTc interval in infected patients were significantly longer than those in non-infected patients(all P＜0.05);among patients with arrhythmia,the average heart rate of infected patients was significantly higher than that of non-infected patients(P＜0.05).Conclusion COVID-19 can induce significant but relatively mild electrocardiographic abnormalities,including mild prolongation of conduction intervals,slight widening of QTc interval,and increased incidence of arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation.
Keywords：Novel coronavirus infectionElectrocardiogramCardiovascular outpatient clinic
Publication Date：2026-06-18
Online Publishing Date：2026-09-14(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：5( 816-820 )