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COVID-19 and Cardiovascular Complications: A Follow-Up Study from Tertiary Center
Danijela Lepojević-Stefanović1, Stefan Živković2, Dragana Marković1
1Cardiology Department, Clinic for Internal Diseases, University Clinical Hospital Center "Zvezdara", Dimitrija Tucovića 161, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
Insights
COVID-19 significantly impacts patients with cardiovascular diseases, causing new cardiac events and increasing mortality risk, especially for those with prior heart conditions. Post-COVID care must address these cardiovascular risks.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- COVID-19 presents diverse non-fatal complications impacting patient quality of life.
- Cardiovascular complications are critical in COVID-19, contributing to morbidity and mortality.
- Understanding COVID-19's effects on patients with pre-existing cardiovascular diseases is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the short-term and long-term cardiovascular effects of COVID-19 infection.
- To identify risk factors for adverse outcomes in COVID-19 patients with cardiovascular disease.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study of 99 hospitalized patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 pneumonia.
- Data collected between March 18 - April 18, 2021.
- Analysis of in-hospital cardiovascular events and mortality.
Main Results:
- 47% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients experienced new cardiovascular events.
- 10 patients died during hospitalization.
- Pre-existing coronary heart disease, heart failure, and hyperkalemia significantly increased mortality risk.
Conclusions:
- Post-COVID-19 care strategies must integrate cardiovascular disease management.
- Primary prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection is vital to mitigate long COVID and cardiovascular complications.
- Continued research is needed to optimize patient care pathways.
Abstract:
(1) Background: In addition to its fatal outcomes, COVID-19 is associated with a spectrum of non-fatal complications that significantly influence clinical trajectories and quality of life. Cardiovascular complications, in particular, are of major clinical relevance and are recognized as key contributors to both short- and long-term morbidity and mortality. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the short-term and long-term effects of COVID-19 infection on patients with underlying cardiovascular diseases. (2) Methods: The prospective cohort study included a total of 99 consecutive subjects hospitalized due to moderate and severe forms of COVID-19 pneumonia in "Zvezdara"-University Medical Center in the period of 18 March-18 April 2021. (3) Results: During hospitalization, 47% of patients had some new cardiovascular events. A total of 10 patients died during hospital stay. The highest chance for the lethal outcome was seen in those with previously diagnosed coronary heart disease (B = 3.356, OR = 28.667 (95% CI 2.69-305.14), p = 0.005), heart failure (B = 3.056, OR = 21.250 (95% CI 3.36-134.56), p = 0.001) and increased potassium values (B = 2.639, OR = 14.000 (95% CI 2.65-73.88), p = 0.002). (4) Conclusions: Care strategies for patients who survived the acute episode of COVID-19 should include attention to cardiovascular disease. Our findings emphasize the need for continued optimization of strategies for primary prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infections as the best way to prevent long COVID and serious cardiovascular complications.
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