Clinical Profile of COVID-19 Patients and QT Interval Changes with Drugs used for Empirical Treatment: A Case Series from Eastern India

Background Clinical profiling of COVID-19 cases is lacking from the eastern part of India. Also, the risk of QT prolongation with hydroxychloroquine when used empirically, with or without azithromycin, for the treatment of in COVID-19 is a matter of concern in India. We sought to generate a clinical and laboratory profile of confirmed COVID-19 patients and study the issue of QT prolongation. Design Record based case series Methods Study included 55 confirmed COVID-19 patients admitted to a dedicated COVID-19 treatment facility set up in a tertiary care hospital. ECG was recorded at baseline, prior to start of hydroxychloroquine ± azithromycin, and following administration of the drugs for 48 hours. Results Among 55 COVID-19 patients included in the study, 47 (85.5 %) were symptomatic. Patients had mean (standard deviation [SD]) age of 45.8 (17.76) years and 20 (36.37 %) were female. Fever and cough were the predominant symptoms on admission. Lymphopenia with or without leukocytosis were the dominant laboratory findings. The mean (SD) baseline QTc was 398.4 (46.96) ms; after starting of hydroxychloroquine ± azithromycin it was 401.8 (45.23) ms. QTc changes were not significant statistically or clinically. Conclusions The clinical profile of COVID-19 patients seen in this case series is similar to that documented in other studies published till date. The triad of fever-cough-dyspnea are predominant presenting symptoms. Lymphopenia, with or without leukopenia, could be potential laboratory marker. The use of hydroxychloroquine for treatment, with or without azithromycin, did not show significant QTc prolongation at 48 hours.