Prevalence of arrhythmias and associated factors among COVID-19 patients in the intensive care unit at COVID-19 treatment centers, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2022. A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), predominantly a respiratory illness, has been a global human threat that causes a multisystem disease, specifically cardiac arrhythmia commonly occurs. Currently, studies about the prevalence of Arrhythmias among COVID-19 patients are limited in low-income countries, including Ethiopia. OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of arrhythmias and associated factors among COVID-19 patients in the ICU. METHOD: An institution-based cross-sectional study design was employed to assess the prevalence of arrhythmias. A study was conducted on a random selected 422 COVID-19 adult patients in the ICU treatment center. Addis Ababa. Ulla Walfridsson's "Arrhythmia-Specific Checklist " was used to collect data. The study was conducted from February 15 to April 15, 2022. Data were described using mean, median, range, and frequency. Bivariate and multivariable analyses were computed. Patient confidentiality is maintained. RESULT: From a total of 422 COVID-19 participants, the prevalence of cardiac arrhythmias was 193(45.7% ; 95% CI: 40.90-50.60).There were 79(18.7%) deaths. More than half of the respondents, 274 (64.9%), were in the age group 55 and above. Individuals aged 35-54 years were 68% less likely to experience cardiac arrhythmias compared with those aged 16-34 years (AOR = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.14-0.74). Patients with high serum calcium levels were five times more likely to develop cardiac arrhythmias (AOR = 5.31, 95% CI: 1.73-16.27). Similarly, those with elevated serum chloride levels were four times more likely (AOR = 4.08, 95% CI: 1.26-13.17). CONCLUSION: The study found a high prevalence of cardiac arrhythmias (45.7% ; 95% CI: 40.90-50.60). The study found that 18.7% of the total COVID-19 patients died. Electrolyte imbalance, high serum chloride, and high Calcium levels were significantly associated with cardiac arrhythmias. Therefore, monitoring and correcting arrhythmia manifestations for COVID-19 patients is vital.