How to manage QT prolongation in COVID-19 patients

sidhi laksono purwowiyoto; Dony Yugo Hermanto; Muhammad Iqbal

doi:10.30701/ijc.1002

sidhi laksono purwowiyoto Head of cardiac catheterization laboratory, Department of cardiology and vascular medicine, RSUD Pasar Rebo, East Jakarta https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2959-8937
Dony Yugo Hermanto Division of arrhythmia and electrophysiology, Department of cardiology and vascular medicine of National Cardiovascular Center of Harapan Kita, Faculty of medicine of Universitas Indonesia.
Muhammad Iqbal Division of arrhythmia and electrophysiology, Department of cardiology and vascular medicine, Faculty of medicine of Universitas Padjadjaran.

Keywords: COVID-19, chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin, QT prolongation, TdP

Abstract

Indonesia has declared a COVID-19 outbreaks because of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in March 2020. COVID-19 has significantly increased morbidity and mortality worldwide. Some studies have shown good clinical outcomes with the use of combination of chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin. That drugs can prolong the QT interval and increase the risk of Torsade de Pointes (TdP). The risk is increasing in several conditions such as in critical patients, metabolic disorders, sepsis, multiorgan dysfunction and with drug-drug interactions. Cardiologists need to know how to manage this condition to reduce the risk of TdP.

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