Authors

Amal El Ouarradi, Department of Cardiology, Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences, Cheikh Khalifa Hospital, Casablanca, MoroccoFollow
Salma Abdeladim, Department of cardiology, Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences, Cheikh Khalifa Hospital, Casablanca, MoroccoFollow
Sara Oualim, Department of cardiology, Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences, Cheikh Khalifa Hospital, Casablanca, MoroccoFollow
Llham Bensahi, Department of cardiology, Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences, Cheikh Khalifa Hospital, Casablanca, MoroccoFollow
Sara Hafid, Department of cardiology, Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences, Cheikh Khalifa Hospital, Casablanca, MoroccoFollow
Hamza Tazi, Department of cardiology, Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences, Cheikh Khalifa Hospital, Casablanca, MoroccoFollow
Mahassine Elharras, Department of cardiology, Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences, Cheikh Khalifa Hospital, Casablanca, MoroccoFollow
Rita Aniq Filali, Department of internal Medicine, Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences, Cheikh Khalifa Hospital, Casablanca, MoroccoFollow
Abdelhamid Nailhou, Department of internal Medicine, Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences, Cheikh Khalifa Hospital, Casablanca, MoroccoFollow
El Arbi Bouaiti, Laboratory of Biostatistics, Clinical Research and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohammed V University in Rabat, MoroccoFollow
Abdelhamid Moustaghfir, Department of cardiology, Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences, Cheikh Khalifa Hospital, Casablanca, MoroccoFollow
Mohamed Sabry, Department of cardiology, Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences, Cheikh Khalifa Hospital, Casablanca, MoroccoFollow

Hydroxychloroquine And Azithromycin As A Treatment Of Covid- 19: Electrocardiogram Variability

Abstract

During the COVID 19 pandemic, the effectiveness of the combination of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin is widely discussed. This treatment can cause many severe cardiac side effects that makes us discuss its utility.

The aim of this study is to describe the cardiovascular effect of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin by analyzing surface ECG in patients with COVID 19.

Methods: This observational cohort study included Moroccan patients with COVID 19 diagnosis and were hospitalized in Cheikh Khalifa International University Hospital, Casablanca, Morocco between March 26 and April 20, 2020.Patients were treated with a combination of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin over a period of at least ten days. We were interested in the effects of this association on the electrocardiogram.

Results: A total of 118 eligible patients were enrolled in the study. QT interval prolongation was observed in 19% of patients under the treatment. Only 5 patients required discontinuation of treatment. The factors associated with QT prolongation are male gender (P value 0,043), age over 68 years (P value 0,09), cardiovascular comorbidity (P value 0,013), tisdale score ≥11 (P value

Conclusion:QT prolongation is a real risk with the combination of HCQ and azithromycin. In the current context, it is necessary to select patients at high risk of severe rhythm disturbances that require closer ECG monitoring. Treatment should be discontinued if there are alarming signs such as QTc prolongation beyond 550 ms and the development of ventricular extrasystole or torsade de pointe.

Recommended Citation

El Ouarradi, Amal; Abdeladim, Salma; Oualim, Sara; Bensahi, Llham; Hafid, Sara; Tazi, Hamza; Elharras, Mahassine; Aniq Filali, Rita; Nailhou, Abdelhamid; Bouaiti, El Arbi; Moustaghfir, Abdelhamid; and Sabry, Mohamed (2020) "Hydroxychloroquine And Azithromycin As A Treatment Of Covid- 19: Electrocardiogram Variability," Journal of the Saudi Heart Association: Vol. 32 : Iss. 3 , Article 7.
Available at: https://doi.org/10.37616/2212-5043.1088

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