Mortality Assessment in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease and COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on global health, especially among patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and the existence of additional conditions such as diabetes (DM), hypertension (HT), and chronic kidney disease (CKD) can have a significant impact on survival rates. The aim of this study was to determine the mortality rate in patients with CVD and the impact of other comorbidities on the death of patients with COVID-19. This systematic review was conducted using PubMed, EMBASE, and Google Scholar databases from August 2020 to June 2025. Inclusion criteria were patients with cardiovascular disease and associated comorbidities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Article selection was limited to articles published in English and Polish. Statistical analysis using a random-effects model was performed using STATA software. Heterogeneity between studies was examined, and a funnel plot for publication bias was generated. The higher mortality rates (OR = 3.00, 95% CI: 2.06-4.38) for patients with cardiovascular disease were observed. In the group of patients with comorbidities such as hypertension and diabetes mellitus the risk of death was also determined and for HT was OR = 1.94, 95% CI, 1.50-2.52 and for DM OR = 2.17, 95% CI: 1.64-2.86. The mortality in the chronic kidney disease group was higher than for HT and DM (OR = 3.91, 95% CI: 2.50-6.10). The risk of death is three times higher for patients with COVID-19 and CVD. High mortality risk is also linked to diabetes and hypertension but for chronic kidney disease patients increased up to four times.