Results of monitoring cardiac rhythm and conduction disturbances in children after COVID-19: original data

To study the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on the cardiovascular system in children and adolescents who have had mild to moderate illness, to identify the characteristics of cardiac rhythm and conduction disturbances in the post-COVID period, and to analyze current literature on the stated issue.

Materials and methods. Electrocardiography and Holter monitoring of ECG in 54 children 3 months after discharge, in the age interval from 1 month to the onset of adulthood, who had a new coronavirus infection of mild or moderate severity.

Results. Supraventricular extrasystoles were recorded in 65% of children. Ventricular extrasystoles of various grades were detected in 25%. Sinus tachycardia, not associated with physical activity, was observed in 40% of patients, and sinus bradycardia in 30%. Atrioventricular block of grade 1 was diagnosed in 45% of patients of the pediatric profile, various variants of the sinoatrial block (incomplete and complete) in total were identified in 30% of patients. Migration of the rhythm driver in the atria, recorded in 50% of the examined. Changes in the repolarization processes are recorded: QT interval prolongation was recorded in 45%, the syndrome of early ventricular repolarization was identified in 75% of the examined. A decrease in heart rate variability (HRV) was a direct confirmation of the presence of autonomic dysfunction, and low and very low HRV was observed in 30% and 10% of the examined children, respectively.

Conclusion. Cardiovascular complications in children who have recovered from COVID-19 are a major and multifaceted problem. There is a wide range of cardiac rhythm and conduction disorders, including changes in repolarization processes, in the pediatric patient cohort.

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