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Analysis of cardiovascular disease factors on SARS-CoV-2 infection severity
Zai-Qiang Zhang1, Jian-Qiao Wan1, Sheng-Kui Zhu1
1Department of Cardiology, The First College of Clinical Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei Province, China; Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei Province, China.
Insights
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) significantly impacts COVID-19 severity, increasing risks for severe illness and complications. COVID-19 also elevates the danger of developing serious cardiovascular conditions.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- COVID-19 poses a significant global health threat.
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a prevalent comorbidity with potential implications for COVID-19 outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the intricate relationship and interaction between cardiovascular disease (CVD) and COVID-19.
- To determine how pre-existing CVD influences the severity and progression of COVID-19.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective study involving 180 COVID-19 patients admitted between January and March 2020.
- Patients were categorized based on COVID-19 severity (non-severe vs. severe) and presence of CVD (non-CVD vs. CVD).
- Analysis included medical history, clinical manifestations, laboratory results, hospitalization duration, and complication rates.
Main Results:
- Patients with CVD experienced a higher incidence of fever and more severe COVID-19 symptoms, including hypertension, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease (CHD), and heart failure (HF).
- Elevated inflammatory markers (IL-6, CRP), D-dimer, NT-proBNP, and fasting blood glucose (FBG) were observed in non-severe COVID-19 patients with CVD.
- Severe COVID-19 patients with CVD showed increased NT-proBNP levels and higher incidences of acute myocardial injury, acute kidney injury, arrhythmia, and sudden death, alongside longer hospitalization durations.
Conclusions:
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a critical factor influencing COVID-19 severity.
- COVID-19 infection exacerbates the risk and progression of cardiovascular complications.
- Understanding this interaction is vital for managing COVID-19 patients with underlying CVD.
Background:
At present, COVID-19 is a global pandemic and is seriously harmful to humans. In this retrospective study, the aim was to investigate the interaction between CVD and COVID-19.
Methods:
A total of 180 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in Yichang Central People's Hospital from 29 January to 17 March 2020 were initially included. The medical history, clinical manifestations at the time of admission, laboratory test results, hospitalization time and complications were recorded. According to the medical history, the patients were assigned to the nonsevere group with non-CVD (n=90), the nonsevere group with CVD (n=22), the severe group with non-CVD (n=40) and the severe group with CVD (n=28).
Results:
In the severe group, compared with non-CVD patients, CVD patients had a significantly higher incidence of fever (P<0.05). However, compared with the nonsevere group, the severe group had significantly higher proportions of patients with hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, CHD and HF (all P<0.05). Among the patients with nonsevere COVID-19, the WBC count and the levels of IL-6, CRP, D-dimer, NT-proBNP, and FBG were significantly higher and the Hb level was significantly lower in the CVD patients than in the non-CVD patients (all P<0.05). However, among the patients with severe COVID-19, only the level of NT-proBNP was significantly higher in CVD patients than in non-CVD patients (P<0.05). In addition, the WBC count and the levels of IL-6, CRP, D-dimer, CKMB, ALT, AST, SCR, NT-proBNP, and FBG were significantly higher and the Hb level was significantly lower in the severe group than in the nonsevere group (all P<0.05). However, among the patients with severe COVID-19, the incidences of acute myocardial injury, acute kidney injury, arrhythmia, and sudden death were significantly higher in the CVD group than in the non-CVD group (all P<0.05). The same results were found in the comparison of the nonsevere group with the severe group. Among the patients with nonsevere COVID-19, those without CVD had a mean hospitalization duration of 25.25 (SD 7.61) days, while those with CVD had a mean hospitalization duration of 28.77 (SD 6.11) days; the difference was significant (P<0.05). The same results were found in the comparison of the severe group.
Conclusions:
CVD affects the severity of COVID-19. COVID-19 also increases the risk of severe CVD.
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