Comparison of Prone Position and Standard Electrocardiogram in COVID-19 Patients

Prolonged prone position ventilation reduces the 30-day mortality in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and in COVID-19 infection. A large number of patients with COVID-19 suffered from new-onset cardiac disease, therefore, ECG is crucial. However, there is limited data on the effects of prone position on the ECG in COVID-19 patients.

Prolonged prone position ventilation reduces the 30-day mortality in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and in COVID-19 infection. The evidence showed that a large number of patients with COVID-19 suffered from new-onset cardiac disease due to inflammatory processes or cytokine storm, therefore, ECG is crucial for making the diagnosis including arrhythmias and myocardial infarction. However, there is limited data on the effects of prone position on the ECG in COVID-19 patients. Therefore, we aimed to identify differences of electrical parameters between prone position and standard ECG including the difference in amplitude and duration of P, QRS, PR interval, QT interval, ST-segment between both positions (supine and prone). Furthermore, we aimed to compare clinical diagnosis from EKG between prone position and standard ECG by the cardiologists.