Abstract Background: Tele-cardiology tools are valuable strategies to improve risk stratification. Objective: We aimed to evaluate the accuracy of tele-electrocardiography (ECG) to predict abnormalities in screening echocardiography (echo) in primary care (PC). Methods: In 17 months, 6 health providers at 16 PC units were trained on simplified handheld echo protocols. Tele-ECGs were recorded for final diagnosis by a cardiologist. Consented patients with major ECG abnormalities by the Minnesota code, and a 1:5 sample of normal individuals underwent clinical questionnaire and screening echo interpreted remotely. Major heart disease was defined as moderate/severe valve disease, ventricular dysfunction/hypertrophy, pericardial effusion, or wall-motion abnormalities. Association between major ECG and echo abnormalities was assessed by logistic regression as follows: 1) unadjusted model; 2) model 1 adjusted for age/sex; 3) model 2 plus risk factors (hypertension/diabetes); 4) model 3 plus history of cardiovascular disease (Chagas/rheumatic heart disease/ischemic heart disease/stroke/heart failure). P-values < 0.05 were considered significant. Results: A total 1,411 patients underwent echo; 1,149 (81%) had major ECG abnormalities. Median age was 67 (IQR 60 to 74) years, and 51.4% were male. Major ECG abnormalities were associated with a 2.4-fold chance of major heart disease on echo in bivariate analysis (OR = 2.42 [95% CI 1.76 to 3.39]), and remained significant after adjustments in models (p < 0.001) 2 (OR = 2.57 [95% CI 1.84 to 3.65]), model 3 (OR = 2.52 [95% CI 1.80 to3.58]), and model 4 (OR = 2.23 [95%CI 1.59 to 3.19]). Age, male sex, heart failure, and ischemic heart disease were also independent predictors of major heart disease on echo. Conclusions: Tele-ECG abnormalities increased the likelihood of major heart disease on screening echo, even after adjustments for demographic and clinical variables. Background Telecardiology Tele cardiology stratification Objective teleelectrocardiography tele electrocardiography (ECG (echo PC. . (PC) Methods months protocols TeleECGs ECGs cardiologist code 15 5 1: remotely moderatesevere moderate severe dysfunctionhypertrophy dysfunction hypertrophy dysfunction/hypertrophy effusion wallmotion wall motion follows age/sex agesex sex hypertension/diabetes hypertensiondiabetes hypertension diabetes (hypertension/diabetes) Chagas/rheumatic Chagasrheumatic Chagas rheumatic diseaseischemic diseasestrokeheart stroke failure. failure failure) Pvalues P values 005 0 05 0.0 Results 1411 411 1,41 1149 149 1,14 81% 81 (81% IQR 74 years 514 51 51.4 2.4fold 24fold fold 2.4 OR 242 42 95% 95 [95 176 76 1.7 3.39, 339 3.39 , 39 3.39]) p 0.001 0001 001 257 57 2.5 184 84 1.8 3.65, 365 3.65 65 3.65]) 252 52 180 80 to3.58, to358 to3.58 to3 58 to3.58]) 223 23 2.2 95%CI 95CI 159 59 1.5 3.19. 319 3.19 19 3.19]) Age Conclusions TeleECG variables (PC (hypertension/diabetes 00 0. 141 41 1,4 114 14 1,1 8 (81 7 51. 4fold 24 2. 9 [9 1. 33 3.3 3.39] 0.00 000 25 18 36 3.6 3.65] to35 to3.5 to3.58] 22 31 3.1 3.19] 1, 11 (8 [ 3. to3. (

Resumo Fundamento: As ferramentas de telecardiologia são estratégias valiosas para melhorar a estratificação de risco. Objetivo: Objetivamos avaliar a acurácia da tele-eletrocardiografia (ECG) para predizer anormalidades no ecocardiograma de rastreamento na atenção primária. Métodos: Em 17 meses, 6 profissionais de saúde em 16 unidades de atenção primária foram treinados em protocolos simplificados de ecocardiografia portátil. Tele-ECGs foram registrados para diagnóstico final por um cardiologista. Pacientes consentidos com anormalidades maiores no ECG pelo código de Minnesota e uma amostra 1:5 de indivíduos normais foram submetidos a um questionário clínico e ecocardiograma de rastreamento interpretado remotamente. A doença cardíaca grave foi definida como doença valvular moderada/grave, disfunção/hipertrofia ventricular, derrame pericárdico ou anormalidade da motilidade. A associação entre alterações maiores do ECG e anormalidades ecocardiográficas foi avaliada por regressão logística da seguinte forma: 1) modelo não ajustado; 2) modelo 1 ajustado por idade/sexo; 3) modelo 2 mais fatores de risco (hipertensão/diabetes); 4) modelo 3 mais história de doença cardiovascular (Chagas/cardiopatia reumática/cardiopatia isquêmica/AVC/insuficiência cardíaca). Foram considerados significativos valores de p < 0,05. Resultados: No total, 1.411 pacientes realizaram ecocardiograma, sendo 1.149 (81%) com anormalidades maiores no ECG. A idade mediana foi de 67 anos (intervalo interquartil de 60 a 74) e 51,4% eram do sexo masculino. As anormalidades maiores no ECG se associaram a uma chance 2,4 vezes maior de doença cardíaca grave no ecocardiograma de rastreamento na análise bivariada (OR = 2,42 [IC 95% 1,76 a 3,39]) e permaneceram significativas (p < 0,001) após ajustes no modelo 2 (OR = 2,57 [IC 95% 1,84 a 3,65]), modelo 3 (OR = 2,52 [IC 95% 1,80 a 3,58]) e modelo 4 (OR = 2,23 [IC 95% 1,59 a 3,19]). Idade, sexo masculino, insuficiência cardíaca e doença cardíaca isquêmica também foram preditores independentes de doença cardíaca grave no ecocardiograma. Conclusões: As anormalidades do tele-ECG aumentaram a probabilidade de doença cardíaca grave no ecocardiograma de rastreamento, mesmo após ajustes para variáveis demográficas e clínicas. Fundamento Objetivo teleeletrocardiografia tele eletrocardiografia (ECG Métodos meses portátil TeleECGs Tele ECGs cardiologista 15 5 1: remotamente moderadagrave moderada moderada/grave disfunçãohipertrofia disfunção hipertrofia ventricular motilidade forma idade/sexo idadesexo hipertensão/diabetes hipertensãodiabetes hipertensão diabetes (hipertensão/diabetes) Chagas/cardiopatia Chagascardiopatia Chagas cardiopatia reumáticacardiopatia reumática isquêmicaAVCinsuficiência AVC cardíaca. . cardíaca) 005 0 05 0,05 Resultados total 1411 411 1.41 1149 149 1.14 81% 81 (81% intervalo 74 514 51 51,4 masculino 24 2, OR 242 42 IC 95 176 76 1,7 3,39 339 39 3,39] 0,001 0001 001 257 57 2,5 184 84 1,8 3,65, 365 3,65 , 65 3,65]) 252 52 180 80 3,58 358 58 3,58] 223 23 2,2 159 59 1,5 3,19. 319 3,19 19 3,19]) Idade Conclusões teleECG clínicas (hipertensão/diabetes 00 0,0 141 41 1.4 114 14 1.1 8 (81 7 51, 9 1, 3,3 33 0,00 000 25 18 36 3,6 3,65] 3,5 35 22 31 3,1 3,19] 0, 1. 11 (8 3, (

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Cardiac involvement seems to impact prognosis of COVID-19, being more frequent in critically ill patients. We aimed to assess the prognostic value of right ventricular (RV) and left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, evaluated by bedside echocardiography (echo), in patients hospitalized with COVID-19. METHODS: Patients admitted in 2 reference hospitals in Brazil from Jul to Sept/2020 with confirmed COVID-19 and moderate/severe presentations underwent clinical and laboratory evaluation, and focused bedside echo (GE Vivid-IQ), at the earliest convenience, with remote interpretation. The association between demographics, clinical comorbidities and echo variables with all-cause hospital mortality was assessed, and factors significant at p<0.10 were put into multivariable models. RESULTS: Total 163 patients were enrolled, 59% were men, mean age 64±16 years, and 107 (66%) were admitted to intensive care. Comorbidities were present in 144 (88%) patients: hypertension 115 (71%), diabetes 61 (37%) and heart failure 22 (14%). In-hospital mortality was 34% (N=56). In univariate analysis, echo variables significantly associated with death were: LV ejection fraction (LVEF, OR=0.94), RV fractional area change (OR=0.96), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE, OR=0.83) and RV dysfunction (OR=5.3). In multivariate analysis, after adjustment for clinical and demographic variables, independent predictors of mortality were age≥63 years (OR=5.53, 95%CI 1.52-20.17), LVEF<64% (OR=7.37, 95%CI 2.10-25.94) and TAPSE<18.5 mm (OR=9.43, 95% CI 2.57-35.03), and the final model had good discrimination, with C-statistic=0.83 (95%CI 0.75-0.91). CONCLUSION: Markers of RV and LV dysfunction assessed by bedside echo are independent predictors of mortality in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, after adjustment for clinical variables.