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Use of a Percutaneous Ventricular Assist Device/Left Atrium to Femoral Artery Bypass System for Cardiogenic Shock
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Characteristics and Outcomes of COVID-19 in Patients on Left Ventricular Assist Device Support

Edo Y Birati1,2,3, Samer S Najjar4, Ryan J Tedford5

  • 1Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine (E.Y.B., K.U., M.M., S.C., N.E., K.B.M., T.C.H., R.Z., J.W.W., J.A.M., A.T.O., L.R.G., M.V.G.), University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.

Circulation. Heart Failure
|April 5, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Patients with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) and COVID-19 experienced severe illness, with 20% mortality. Understanding these outcomes is crucial for managing this high-risk group during the pandemic.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Critical Care Medicine

Background:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic poses a significant threat to vulnerable populations, including those with end-stage heart failure and left ventricular assist devices (LVADs).
  • These patients often have complex comorbidities and compromised immune function, increasing their risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes.
  • Limited data exists on the clinical characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 in LVAD patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with end-stage heart failure and durable LVADs who contracted COVID-19.
  • To provide insights into the presentation, disease course, and mortality associated with COVID-19 in this specific patient cohort.

Main Methods:

  • A multi-center registry (Trans-CoV-VAD) collected data on LVAD and cardiac transplant patients in the US with confirmed COVID-19.
  • Data included patient demographics, exposure history, clinical presentation, laboratory findings, disease course, and clinical outcomes.
  • This analysis focused on data from the first 9 centers reporting LVAD data.

Main Results:

  • The study included 40 LVAD patients with a median age of 56; 35% were women and 52% were Black.
  • Common symptoms included cough (41%), fever (38%), and fatigue (38%), with 18% being asymptomatic at diagnosis.
  • Hospitalization was required for 60% of patients, and 20% (8 patients) died, often after prolonged hospital stays.

Conclusions:

  • This represents the largest case series to date of LVAD patients diagnosed with COVID-19.
  • Understanding the clinical features and outcomes of COVID-19 in LVAD patients is vital for improving management and outcomes in this complex population.
Abstract

Keywords:
COVID-19SARS-CoV-2heart failurehospitalizationoutcomes researchventricular assist device

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