Cardiotoxicity of Drugs Used in the Management of the COVID-19 Patients: Single-Center Retrospective Study

Background:-Since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), there have been many changes in treatment protocols. With the rise of COVID-19 cases globally and the absence of any approved medicine for the treatment of (COVID-19), many drugs have been experimentally administered to patients, ignoring possible side effects. Some of these drugs have a background of potential cardiotoxicity that should be evaluated. Methods:-A retrospective study will be conducted on patients’ admissions to (ICU) or (CCU) in Al-Noor Hospital in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to treat COVID-19. The effect of the drugs used in the management of COVID-19 on the cardiac parameters of patients will be evaluated and compared with COVID-19 medications that cause cardiotoxicity in patients. Results:-The patients were having Symptoms included arrhythmia (56.3%), murmur (43.0%), QT prolongation (54.3%), chest pain (54.3%), shortness of breath (55.0%), heart palpitation (45.7%), fluid retention (47.0%) and myocarditis (51.7%). ICU admission diagnoses in most patients were COVID exacerbation (51.7%) and pneumonia (38.4%). Different classes of antibiotics and antivirals were administered to the patients, and a high risk of cardiac manifestations was observed in patients using Ribavirin which was used in 51 patients (33.8%). Conclusion:-The study showed that cardiotoxic symptoms appear among patients using anti-COVID medications, especially Ribavirin. Therefore, there is a need to limit the use of medicines for COVID-19, which causes cardiotoxicity and change the protocol used in Saudi Arabia.