2.1. Study population
After approvals from the local ethics committee (with date 01.02.2021
and number 2021/04-27) and the Turkish Ministry of Health, the
retrospective cohort study was conducted in adult ICUs of our center.
All adult patients (age ≥ 18 years) diagnosed with COVID-19 infection
were included in the study between March 2020 and January 2021.
SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed by either using reverse transcriptase
polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing on respiratory samples and/or
with clinical characteristics, laboratory, and computed tomography
findings. The exclusion criteria of the study were having chronic AF
diagnosis before COVID-19 diagnosis, presence of cardiac
pacemaker/implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, atrial flutter, and
NOAF development immediately after cardiopulmonary resuscitation.