Analysis of in-hospital complications in patients with acute cardiovascular pathology and co-infection with COVID-19: a registry of one center

Abstract

The aim – to analyze in-hospital mortality in pts with acute cardiovascular pathology (ACP) and a co-infection with COVID-19.Materials and methods. 139 pts with ACP who were diagnosed with COVID-19 were examined. 69 (49.6 %) pts had ACS (47 pts with AMI), 33 (23.7 %) pts – hypertensive urgency, 24 (17.3 %) pts – ADHF, 9 (6.5 %) pts – tachysystolic paroxysm of atrial fibrillation, 2 (1.4 %) pts – acute pulmonary embolism, and 2 (1.4 %) pts – syncope. The average age was 67.9±12.7 y.o., 70 (50.4 %) pts were male. Concomitant arterial hypertension was found in 87.1 %, DM – 20.9 %, CHF – 30.9 %, COPD – 9.4 % of pts, history of AMI – 20.1 % and ischemic stroke – 9.4 % of pts. In 79 (56.8 %) pts COVID-19 was diagnosed and laboratory confirmed before hospitalization (hospitalized in 5.3±3.6 days after symptoms onset). 31 (22.3 %) pts were diagnosed with COVID-19 upon admission, and 29 (20.9 %) – during their stay in the hospital. 20 (15.6 %) pts were vaccinated against COVID-19. The initial SpO2 level was 91.6±10.3 %, while more than half of pts (53.2 %) had SpO2 < 95 % and almost every fourth (23.2 %) patient had SpO2 < 90 %.Results and discussion. During the hospital period, 20 (14.4 %) pts died. The mortality rate was 28.0 % in pts with ADHF, 19.1 % in pts with AMI and significantly less in pts hospitalized for unstable angina, hypertensive urgency or atrial fibrillation – 5.2 % (p<0.05 in comparison with pts with AMI or ADHF). The main cause of death was the development of cardiopulmonary failure – 14 (70.0 %) pts. 4 (20.0 %) pts died from AMI complications, 1 – from pulmonary embolism and 1 – from acute ischemic stroke. Two critical periods of in-hospital mortality can be distinguished: 1 – the first two days of hospitalization (mainly complications of acute cardiovascular pathology and thrombotic events); 2 – from 7 to 10 days after hospitalization (development of multiple organ failure due to hypoxia and heart failure progression). The mortality rate of patients with ACP and COVID-19 was significantly higher than that of simultaneously hospitalized patients without comorbid respiratory infection (14.4 % vs. 6.4 %, p=0.012) and patients who were hospitalized before the pandemic (14.4 % vs. 2.9 %, p<0.001). Vaccinated patients were significantly less likely to develop acute kidney injury, acute hypoxic delirium, had higher average blood SpO2, and less often required non-invasive ventilation. Only 1 vaccinated patient died from the development of cardiogenic shock against the background of anterior AMI and multivessel coronary artery disease (mortality – 15.7 % in unvaccinated pts vs 5.0 % in vaccinated, p=0.076).Conclusions. Co-infection with COVID-19 worsens treatment outcomes and in-hospital mortality of patients with ACP. Vaccination significantly reduces the likelihood of complications and tends to reduce mortality.