The American Heart Association has released a scientific statement providing guidance on the management of patients with COVID-19-related cardiac arrhythmias and autonomic dysfunction. The statement was published Oct. 14 in Circulation.
The statement was prepared by researchers representing the American Heart Association's Electrocardiography and Arrhythmias Committee of the Council on Clinical Cardiology, as well as the councils on basic cardiovascular sciences, cardiovascular and stroke nursing, genomic and precision medicine, and hypertension.
Here are eight takeaways from the statement:
- Both innocuous and life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias can be seen in patients during and post-COVID-19 infection.
- Reasons for these arrhythmias can include direct autonomic effects, hemodynamic disruption and immune-related causes.
- The types of arrhythmias associated with COVID-19 are bradyarrhythmias, AF/flutter and ventricular arrhythmias.
- To avoid sudden cardiac arrest for high-risk patients during COVID-19 infection, the authors recommend prompt treatment with antiviral therapies.
- Patients who develop myocarditis post-COVID-19 infection could benefit from longer observation through remote patient monitoring.
- The statement provides guidance on the diagnosis and management of patients with post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2, commonly known as "long COVID."
- The authors highlighted interactions between COVID-19 drugs and cardiovascular medications.
- The statement said "studies have failed to convincingly demonstrate that COVID-19 vaccines cause arrhythmias except those associated with myocarditis."
Read the full statement here.