The Impact of Electrolyte Disturbances on the Course of the Heart Disease of COVID-19 and the Possibilities of Correction

COVID-19 is a disease that affects the whole human’s organism and the symptoms and severity of its course vary greatly. Most patients with COVID-19 tolerate it in a mild form without hospitalization. However, severe and even fatal course of this disease is possible, especially in patients with blood circulatory system pathology. The objective: to assess the impact of electrolyte disorders on the course of coronavirus disease and to find a reduction in the risk of developing cardiovascular complications in the form of heart rhythm disorders by correcting hypokalemia and hypomagnesemia. Materials and methods. The study included 117 patients (16 women, 56 men) with coronavirus disease from 18 to 65 years old. All patients were examined for the level of electrolytes K+, Na+, Mg++, Cl- on the 2nd–4th day from the beginning of hospitalization, after 7–10–14 days and on the 3d, 6th, 12th weeks during outpatient observation. The effect of correction of electrolyte disorders was assessed by the duration of the disease and the dynamics of symptoms from the side of cardiac arrhythmia. The patients were divided into four groups depending on the severity of the disease, electrolyte indicators, the presence of pneumonia and the prescribed treatment. The patients in the 1st and 3d groups received, in addition to basic therapy, a high-dose complex of potassium and magnesium 300 mg each based on citrate salt for 3 months. The groups were statistically homogeneous. Results. The development of electrolyte disorders in the clinical manifestations of COVID-19 is associated with the systemic effect of the pathogen. During the study a relationship between mild and moderate severity of COVID-19 coronavirus disease and electrolyte imbalance was established. The course of the disease of moderate severity correlated with decreased potassium and magnesium concentrations, while from our own clinical observations, hyperkalemia indicators were observed more often in patients with severe course, who were hospitalized in the intensive care unit, which is probably due to the presence of concomitant pathology. Conclusions. In patients who received an additional source of magnesium and potassium in the form of a high-dose complex, the normalization of potassium and magnesium levels was determined from the 3rd week of treatment for moderate-severe COVID-19. In groups with basic therapy without the use of an additional source of elements, the level of potassium and magnesium decreased throughout the observation period. The use of 300 mg of magnesium and 300 mg of potassium in the form of citrate for 3 months demonstrated a positive effect on the relief of symptoms of the disease and the recovery of patients.