Effect of Hospital-associated SARS-CoV-2 Infections in Cardiac Surgery: A Multicenter Study

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Critical Care Medicine

Background:

• Hospital-associated SARS-CoV-2 infections in cardiac surgery patients are poorly understood.
• Existing data are limited to small case series with conflicting findings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze outcomes of cardiac surgery patients with hospital-associated SARS-CoV-2 infection.
• To investigate the impact of early versus late infection on postoperative mortality and morbidity.

Main Methods:

• A multicenter European collaboration analyzed 87 cardiac surgery patients with hospital-associated SARS-CoV-2.
• Patients were divided into early (≤7 days post-op) and late (>7 days post-op) infection groups.
• Primary outcome was 30-day mortality; secondary outcomes included all-cause mortality, morbidity, and readmission.

Main Results:

• Overall 30-day mortality was 8%; in-hospital mortality was 11.5%.
• Early infection was significantly associated with higher mortality (adjusted OR, 26.6; P < .01).
• Six-month survival was lower in the early infection group (75%) versus the late group (91%).

Conclusions:

• Hospital-associated SARS-CoV-2 infection leads to higher-than-expected postoperative mortality in cardiac surgery.
• Early infection poses a significantly greater risk for adverse outcomes, including mortality.