Detecting early physiologic changes through cardiac implantable electronic device data among patients with COVID-19

Cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) may enable early identification of COVID-19 to facilitate timelier intervention.

To characterize early physiologic changes associated with the onset of acute COVID-19 infection, as well as during and after acute infection, among patients with CIEDs.

CIED sensor data from March 2020 to February 2021 from 286 patients with a CIED were linked to clinical data from electronic health records. Three cohorts were created: known COVID-positive (n = 20), known COVID-negative (n = 166), and a COVID-untested control group (n = 100) included to account for testing bias. Associations between changes in CIED sensors from baseline (including HeartLogic index, a composite index predicting worsening heart failure) and COVID-19 status were evaluated using logistic regression models, Wilcoxon signed rank tests, and Mann-Whitney U tests.

Significant differences existed between the cohorts by race, ethnicity, CIED device type, and medical admissions. Several sensors changed earlier for COVID-positive vs COVID-negative patients: HeartLogic index (mean 16.4 vs 9.2 days [P = .08]), respiratory rate (mean 8.5 vs 3.9 days [P = .01], and activity (mean 8.2 vs 3.5 days [P = .008]). Respiratory rate during the 7 days before testing significantly predicted a positive vs negative COVID-19 test, adjusting for age, sex, race, and device type (odds ratio 2.31 [95% confidence interval 1.33-5.13]).

Physiologic data from CIEDs could signal early signs of infection that precede clinical symptoms, which may be used to support early detection of infection to prevent decompensation in this at-risk population.