Abstract Background Cardiovascular involvement associated with SARS-COV-2 infection is related to unfavorable outcomes during hospitalization. Therefore, the measurement at the admission of the QTc interval on the 12-lead electrocardiogram may be a prognostic marker. Objective To identify the relationship between QTc prolongation at admission during hospitalization and mortality from SARS-COV-2. Method Observational study based on a retrospective cohort of patients with confirmed SARS-COV-2 infection from San Ignacio University Hospital, Bogotá (Colombia), between March 19, 2020, and July 31, 2021. Mortality was compared in patients with prolonged and normal QTc at admission after controlling by clinical variables and comorbidities using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results 1296 patients were analyzed, and 127 (9.8%) had prolonged QTc. Mortality was higher in patients with prolonged QTc (39.4% vs 25.3%, p=0.001), as was hospital stay (median 11vs.8 days; p=0.002). In the multivariate analysis, mortality was associated with prolonged QTc (OR 1.61, 95% CI: 1.02; 2.54, p=0.038), age (OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.02; 1.05, p<0.001), male sex (OR 2.15, 95% CI 1.60; 2.90, p <0.001), kidney disease (OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.05; 1.66, p =0.018) and Charlson comorbidity index > 3 (OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.03; 2.17, p=0.035). Conclusions Hospital mortality due to SARS-COV-2 is associated with prolonging the QTc interval at the time of admission, even after adjusting for age, sex, comorbidities, and basal severity of infection. Additional research is needed to establish whether these findings are related to cardiac involvement by the virus, hypoxia, and systemic inflammation.

Resumo Fundamento O envolvimento cardiovascular associado à infecção por SARS-COV-2 está relacionado a desfechos desfavoráveis durante a internação. Portanto, a medida na admissão do intervalo QTc no eletrocardiograma de 12 derivações pode ser um marcador prognóstico. Objetivo Identificar a relação entre o prolongamento do QTc na admissão durante a hospitalização e a mortalidade por SARS-COV-2. Método Estudo observacional baseado em uma coorte retrospectiva de pacientes com infecção confirmada por SARS-COV-2 do Hospital Universitário San Ignacio, Bogotá (Colômbia), entre 19 de março de 2020 e 31 de julho de 2021. A mortalidade foi comparada em pacientes com QTc prolongado e normal na admissão e controle das variáveis clínicas e comorbidades por meio de modelos de regressão logística bivariada e multivariada. Um valor de p <0,05 foi considerado estatisticamente significativo Resultados Foram analisados 1.296 pacientes e 127 (9,8%) apresentaram QTc prolongado. A mortalidade foi maior em pacientes com QTc prolongado (39,4% vs. 25,3%, p=0,001), assim como o tempo de internação (mediana 11 vs. 8 dias; p=0,002). Na análise multivariada, a mortalidade foi associada a QTc prolongado (OR 1,61, IC 95%: 1,02; 2,54, p=0,038), idade (OR 1,03, IC 95% 1,02; 1,05, p<0,001), sexo masculino (OR 2,15, IC 95% 1,60; 2,90, p<0,001), doença renal (OR 1,32, IC 95% 1,05; 1,66, p=0,018) e índice de comorbidade de Charlson > 3 (OR 1,49, IC 95% 1,03; 2,17, p=0,035). Conclusões A mortalidade hospitalar por SARS-COV-2 está associada ao prolongamento do intervalo QTc no momento da admissão, mesmo após ajuste para idade, sexo, comorbidades e gravidade basal da infecção. Pesquisas adicionais são necessárias para estabelecer se esses achados estão relacionados ao envolvimento cardíaco pelo vírus, hipóxia e inflamação sistêmica.

Resumen Introducción: La mortalidad por SARS-COV-2 ha disminuido en diferentes países, pero no se ha evaluado si es igual en Colombia, o si se relaciona con las carac terísticas de los pacientes y tratamientos utilizados. Objetivo: Comparar la mortalidad por SARS-COV-2, en dos periodos de tiempo controlando por factores de riesgo asociados con mortalidad. Metodología: Estudio observacional, basado en una cohorte retrospectiva de pacientes con SARS-COV-2 atendidos en el Hospital Universitario San Ignacio, Bogotá (Colombia), desde el 19 de marzo al 12 de noviembre, 2020. Se comparó la tasa de mortalidad intrahospitalaria de los pacientes egresados antes y después del 21 de agosto de 2020 (primer pico de mortalidad en Colombia) y se analizó el impacto del momento de atención controlando por comorbilidades, severidad al ingreso y tratamiento recibido, usando un modelo de regresión logística. Resultados: 1399 pacientes (944 antes y 455 después del primer pico de mortalidad) fueron analizados. La tasa de mortalidad intrahospitalaria global fue similar en ambos periodos (17.6% vs 16.3%, p=0.539). En el análisis multivariado se encontró que la atención en el segundo periodo de tiempo se asoció a menor mortalidad (OR 0.66 IC95% 0.47; 0.93, p=0.018), a diferencia del aumento de la misma asociado a la edad (OR 1.06 IC95% 1.05; 1.07, p<0.001), sexo masculino (OR 1.84 IC95% 1.33; 2.54 p<0.001), cirrosis (OR 1.89 IC95% 1.24; 2.88, p=0.003), enfermedad renal (OR 1.36 IC95% 1.00; 1.83, p=0.043) y el uso de dexametasona (OR 1.53 IC95% 1.03; 2.28, p=0.031). Conclusiones: La tasa de mortalidad intrahospitalaria se redujo después del 21 de agosto durante la primera ola de la pandemia en Bogotá, posiblemente asociado a la mejoría en la capacidad de respuesta del sistema de salud en ese momento, o a un menor inoculo viral de los pacientes infectados. Estos hallazgos pueden cambiar con la saturación del sistema de salud.

Abstract Introduction: Mortality secondary to SARS-COV 2 has decreases around the world, however this has not been evaluated in Colombia neither has the correlation between patient characteristics or treatments. Objective: To compare the mortality due to SARS-COV-2, in two periods of time, controlling risk factors associated with mortality. Methodology: Observational retrospective cohort study of patients with SARS- COV-2 treated at the San Ignacio University Hospital in Bogotá (Colombia), from March 19 to November 12, 2020. The in-hospital mortality rate of patients discharged before and after August 21, 2020 (surge mortality in Colombia) was com pared. The impact of the moment of attention was analyzed controlled by comorbidities, severity at admission and treatment received using a bivariate and multivariate logistic regression model. Results: 1399 patients (944 before and 455 after August 21) were analyzed. The overall in-hospital mortality rate was similar at both times (17.6%vs16.3percentage, p=0.539). In the multivariate analysis, it was found that the moment of attention was associated with lower mortality (OR 0.66 95% CI0.47;0.93,p=0.018), in contrast to its increase associated with age (OR 1.06 95% CI 1.05;1.07,p=<0.001), male sex (OR 1.84 95%CI 1.33;2.54,p=<0.001), cirrhosis (OR1.89 95%CI 1.24;2.88, p=0.003), kidney disease (OR 1.36 95% CI1.00;1.83,p=0.043) and the use of dexamethasone (OR1.53 95%CI 1.03;2.28,p=0.031). Conclusions: The in-hospital mortality rate fell after August 21 during the first wave of the pandemic in Bogotá-Colombia, possibly associated with an improvement in response capacity, or a lower viral inoculum of infected patients. These findings may change with the saturation of the health system