[ECG changes in COVID-19].

Aim      To evaluate changes in 12-lead ECG in patients with coronavirus infection.Materials and methods This article describes signs of electrocardiographic right ventricular "stress" in patients with COVID-19. 150 ECGs of 75 COVID-19 patients were analyzed in the Institute of Cardiology of the National Medical Research Centre for Therapy and Preventive Medicine. The diagnosis was based on the clinical picture of community-acquired pneumonia, data of chest multispiral computed tomography, and a positive test for COVID-19. ECG was recorded both in 3-6 and in 12 leads. Signs of right ventricular (RV) stress, so-called systolic overload (high R and inverted TV1-3 and TII, III, aVF), and diastolic overload (RV wall hypertrophy and cavity dilatation; complete or incomplete right bundle branch block) were evaluated.Results The most common signs for impaired functioning of the right heart include emergence of the RV P wave phase (41.3 %), incomplete right bundle branch block (42.6 %), ECG of the SIQ IIITIII type (33.3 %) typical for thromboembolic complications, and signs of RV hypertrophy, primarily increased SV5-6 (14.7 %). These changes are either associated with signs of RV myocardial stress (16 %) or appear on the background of signs for diffuse hypoxia evident as tall, positive, sharp-ended T waves in most leads (28 %).Conclusion      A conclusive, comprehensive assessment of the reversal of hemodynamic disorders and electrocardiographic dynamics in patients with COVID-19 will be possible later, when more data become available.

Diagnostic utility of long-term remote ECG monitoring in compare with 24 hour Holter monitoring in patients with atrial fibrillation after catheter radiofrequency ablation in the early postoperative period.

AIM: To evaluate the diagnostic utility of long-term remote monitoring of ECG compared with 24 hour Holter monitoring for the detection of cardiac arrhythmias and conduction disturbance in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) after catheter radiofrequency ablation (RFA; isolation) of the pulmonary veins. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 62 patients aged 58.5±11.1 years, with paroxysmal or persistent AF, after catheter RFA (pulmonary veins isolation). Patients underwent long-term remote ECG monitoring, 24 hour Holter monitoring and transthoracic echocardiogram. RESULTS: After 24 hour Holter monitoring of 62 patients with AF after RFA in 21 of them (33.9%) was detected early recurrence of AF. Remote ECG monitoring of 18 patients, detected AF in 7 patients (39%), 2 of them were asymptomatic AF recurrence. 24 hour Holter monitoring of the same 18 patients AF recurrence was not detected at all (0%). CONCLUSION: Both of devices, long-term remote monitoring of ECG and 24 hour Holter monitoring detected 45.2% of recurrence of AF. Over the wearing of both devises 24 hour Holter and long-term remote monitor the last detected more events among 18 patients (33% vs 0%). Two evens of AF recurrence were asymptomatic.

Pre-treatment condition effects on blood pressure and heart rate variability change in patients with arterial hypertension on therapy.

AIM: To study the relationship of the initial clinical and functional state of patients with arterial hypertension (AH) with the dynamics of daily indices of blood pressure (BP) and sinus rhythm on antihypertensive therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 38 patients were examined (general clinical examination, electrocardiography, echocardiography, daily bifunctional monitoring with the determination of weighted average rhythmogram variations - WARV, clinical and biochemical analysis of blood, glycated hemoglobin, thyroid hormones) and distribyted according to the use of hypotensive drugs of main classes and combined therapy AH. Dynamic monitoring of the effectiveness of treatment was carried out (after 2-4 weeks, then every 1-2 months), clinically and with bifunctional monitoring, correction of therapy. The observation period was 8 months. RESULTS: By the end of the study, 27 patients had target blood pressure, significant decrease in systolic / diastolic blood pressure (10/5 mm Hg and more) occurred in 30 patients. A correlation was found between the effectiveness of antihypertensive treatment and the initial clinical and instrumental parameters of patients: age, heart size (including left ventricular hypertrophy - LVH), thyroid stimulating blood hormone (TSH) level and fasting blood glucose (within normal limits). The level of WARV also correlated with these indicators and was significantly higher in patients who achieved a significant reduction in blood pressure. No significant dynamics of WARV was detected. No relationship between baseline blood pressure with WARV and their changes were identified. The connection of the myocardial mass index with the level of TSH and glycated hemoglobin was demostrated. CONCLUSION: The WARV reflects the severity of organic heart changes associated with age, disease duration, metabolic profile, LVH - heart damage as a target organ in AH, but is not suitable for analyzing its functional changes within one stage of the disease.

Comparative assessment of ECG dynamics in myocardial infarction according to reperfusion therapy approach (primary and facilitated coronary angioplasty) and timing of the procedure.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare electrocardiogram (ECG)-12 dynamics depending on the methods of facilitated and primary angioplasty in patients with acute coronary syndrome. The ECG changes in 81 patients - 73 patients with acute myocardial infarction and 8 patients with unstable angina pectoris - were studied. METHODS: The ECG analysis before reperfusion therapy and after angioplasty included: dynamics of summary elevation (Sigma ST+) and depression (Sigma ST-) of ST segment and changes of summary value of R waves (Sigma R) in 12 leads. The results were estimated with consideration for the length of the period from the beginning of pain syndrome till treatment and topics of the infraction-related artery. RESULTS: According to our data, there was no difference between facilitated and primary transluminal coronary angioplasty in their effect on focal myocardial variation dynamics and the size of peri-infarction zone. CONCLUSION: A reliable decrease in elevation and depression of ST segment was observed in reperfusion therapy not later than 6 hours after the beginning of pain syndrome. When reperfusion therapy is begun later, dynamics of summary values of ST segment elevation and depression before and after treatment are not reliable.

Influence of left ventricular hypertrophy on heart rate variability in hypertensive patients.

Long-term heart rate variability (HRV) data were obtained from 38 patients with arterial hypertension and 20 healthy persons. New method of HRV analysis based on calculation and estimation of variations of short rhythmogram intervals (SRV) was applied. This method showed that HRV level depends on number of factors. The most significant of them are patient's age, arterial hypertension form and duration, and left ventricular hypertrophy degree. Patients with these risk factors may be highly predisposed to rate variability decrease. (Tab. 8, Ref. 8.)