COVID-19 infection and heart failure events

Abstract

Introduction. COVID-19 pandemic has an impact on HF management, possibly leading to an increase in HF mortality, while history of HF is a risk factor for a more severe clinical course of COVID-19. Purpose. The aim of our study is to analyze the complex interconnection between the COVID-19 and heart failure events. Material and methods. The research included 89 COVID-19 patients, admitted to the cardiology department 18-91 years, the mean age being of 67,23 ± 13,20 years, whereas 47% (42 pts) were men and 53% (47 pts) were women. Physical examination, ecg and echocardiography, laboratory parameters were collected: general blood count, natriuretic peptides, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanineaminotransferase (ALT), albumin, creatinine, serum sodium and potassium, D-dimers, and INR. Results. Of all patients in the CVDRF (cardiovascular disease risk factors) cohort, 13 (15%) patients experienced, HF events at admission or during hospitalization, of which 40 (46%) patients in the HF subgroup and 7 (8%) in the non-HF subgroup, the latter accounting for 40% of all observed HF events. In the CVDRF cohort, patients with an HF event were at a two-fold increased risk for inhospital mortality compared with those without HF events, P < 0.001, OR 3.10 [2.244.29]), even after adjustment for age, sex, risk factors, and co-morbidities. Interaction for HF events and age was significant (P = 0.023). Age, CV diseases, CV risk factors, history of HF, atrial fibrillation, and CKD were significantly associated with HF events. Conclusions. This study demonstrates a higher mortality for hospitalized COVID-19 patients with HF compared with patients without HF, even after adjustment for other conditions and co-morbidities.