@Article{info:doi/10.2196/51399,
author="Texiwala, Sikander Z
and de Souza, Russell J
and Turner, Suzette
and Singh, Sheldon M",
title="Physical Activity, Heart Rate Variability, and Ventricular Arrhythmia During the COVID-19 Lockdown: Retrospective Cohort Study",
journal="JMIR Cardio",
year="2024",
month="Feb",
day="5",
volume="8",
pages="e51399",
keywords="implantable cardioverter defibrillator; heart rate variability; physical activity; lockdown; ICD; ventricular arrhythmias; defibrillator; implementation",
abstract="Background: Ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) increase with stress and national disasters. Prior research has reported that VA did not increase during the onset of the COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020, and the mechanism for this is unknown. Objective: This study aimed to report the presence of VA and changes in 2 factors associated with VA (physical activity and heart rate variability [HRV]) at the onset of COVID-19 lockdown measures in Ontario, Canada. Methods: Patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) followed at a regional cardiac center in Ontario, Canada with data available for both HRV and physical activity between March 1 and 31, 2020, were included. HRV, physical activity, and the presence of VA were determined during the pre- (March 1-10, 2020) and immediate postlockdown (March 11-31) period. When available, these data were determined for the same period in 2019. Results: In total, 68 patients had complete data for 2020, and 40 patients had complete data for 2019. Three (7.5{\%}) patients had VA in March 2019, whereas none had VA in March 2020 (P=.048). Physical activity was reduced during the postlockdown period (mean 2.3, SD 1.6 hours vs mean 2.1, SD 1.6 hours; P=.003). HRV was unchanged during the pre- and postlockdown period (mean 91, SD 30 ms vs mean 92, SD 28 ms; P=.84). Conclusions: VA was infrequent during the COVID-19 pandemic. A reduction in physical activity with lockdown maneuvers may explain this observation. ",
issn="2561-1011",
doi="10.2196/51399",
url="https://cardio.jmir.org/2024/1/e51399",
url="https://doi.org/10.2196/51399",
url="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/38315512"
}