B-PO03-061 DECREASED ACTIVITY AND ATRIAL ARRHYTHMIAS IN PATIENTS WITH CRT DEVICES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

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Background

The public health response to COVID-19 pandemic resulted in social distancing, stay-at-home orders, and quarantine. The effects of these measures on patient health is poorly understood. The expected effect on atrial arrhythmias is difficult to predict.

Objective

To determine the effects of the pandemic on physiologic parameters and atrial arrhythmias among cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) patients the Massachusetts General Brigham healthcare system.

Methods

We extracted clinical characteristics and inpatient/outpatient utilization data from the electronic medical record. We extracted CRT parameters from the Medtronic Carelink database from March 1st through June 30th in both 2019 (pre-COVID) and 2020 (COVID). Atrial arrhythmias were recorded in the Medtronic Cardiac Compass.

Results

Our cohort (n=394) had a median age of 71, was 71% male, and 84% Caucasian. Of these patients 64% had a non-ischemic cardiomyopathy and 53% was NYHA class I-II. From 2019 to 2020, heart rate variability decreased by 4.3% (p<0.001), while patients’ nighttime and daytime heart rate decreased by 0.9% (and 2.1% (p<0.001 for both). The average total activity level decreased from 166 to 141 minutes per day (p<0.001). There was also a 17% decrease in the total time in atrial arrhythmias (qualifying

Conclusion

These findings together show decreased physical activity, heart rate, heart rate variability, and burden of atrial arrhythmias in patients with CRT, associated with the start of the pandemic. Further investigation is needed to clarify the exact mechanism of this observation.

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