Guidance on Short-Term Management of Atrial Fibrillation in Coronavirus Disease 2019

J Am Heart Assoc. 2020 Jul 21;9(14):e017529. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.120.017529. Epub 2020 Jun 9.

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation is a common clinical manifestation in hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Medications used to treat atrial fibrillation, such as antiarrhythmic drugs and anticoagulants, may have significant drug interactions with emerging COVID-19 treatments. Common unintended nontherapeutic target effects of COVID-19 treatment include potassium channel blockade, cytochrome P 450 isoenzyme inhibition or activation, and P-glycoprotein inhibition. Drug-drug interactions with antiarrhythmic drugs and anticoagulants in these patients may lead to significant bradycardia, ventricular arrhythmias, or severe bleeding. It is important for clinicians to be aware of these interactions, drug metabolism changes, and clinical consequences when choosing antiarrhythmic drugs and anticoagulants for COVID-19 patients with atrial fibrillation. The objective of this review is to provide a practical guide for clinicians who are managing COVID-19 patients with concomitant atrial fibrillation.

Keywords: COVID‐19; antiarrhythmic drug; atrial fibrillation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / adverse effects
  • Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / pharmacokinetics
  • Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Anticoagulants / adverse effects
  • Anticoagulants / pharmacokinetics
  • Anticoagulants / therapeutic use*
  • Antiviral Agents / adverse effects
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacokinetics
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Atrial Fibrillation / diagnosis
  • Atrial Fibrillation / epidemiology
  • Atrial Fibrillation / therapy*
  • Betacoronavirus / pathogenicity*
  • COVID-19
  • COVID-19 Drug Treatment
  • Coronavirus Infections / diagnosis
  • Coronavirus Infections / drug therapy*
  • Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology
  • Coronavirus Infections / virology
  • Drug Interactions
  • Host Microbial Interactions
  • Humans
  • Pandemics
  • Pneumonia, Viral / diagnosis
  • Pneumonia, Viral / drug therapy*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology
  • Pneumonia, Viral / virology
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anti-Arrhythmia Agents
  • Anticoagulants
  • Antiviral Agents