Prognostic Impact of Prior Heart Failure in Patients Hospitalized With COVID-19

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• Patients with pre-existing heart failure (HF) represent a vulnerable population during the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
• Limited data exist on the specific risks and outcomes for HF patients hospitalized with COVID-19.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with HF admitted to the hospital for COVID-19.
• To identify factors associated with adverse outcomes in this patient cohort.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective analysis of 6,439 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 was conducted.
• Electronic health records were used to capture clinical data and outcomes, including length of stay, ICU admission, mechanical ventilation, and mortality.
• Manual chart abstraction was performed for patients with a history of HF to determine etiology, functional class, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

Main Results:

• Patients with a history of HF experienced significantly longer hospital stays (8 vs. 6 days) compared to those without HF.
• HF patients had a substantially higher risk of requiring mechanical ventilation (22.8% vs. 11.9%) and in-hospital mortality (40.0% vs. 24.9%).
• These adverse outcomes were consistent across different levels of LVEF.

Conclusions:

• A history of heart failure is an independent risk factor for severe outcomes, including mechanical ventilation and mortality, in patients hospitalized with COVID-19.
• The findings highlight the critical need for close monitoring and tailored management strategies for HF patients during COVID-19 outbreaks.