Cardiac complications of COVID-19: Incidence and outcomes

Abstract

BackgroundCoronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has been associated with pre-existing cardiac conditions as well as cardiovascular complications. The incidence rates of cardiac complications, age, and gender differences in this population are unknown. ObjectivesWe wanted to study the incidence of cardiac complications and mortality in patients with COVID-19. MethodsData from the TriNetX COVID-19 global research network platform was used to identify COVID-19 patients. We compared patients with and without cardiac complications in patients with COVID-19 and obtained survival data. ResultsThe final cohort was composed of 81,844 patients with COVID-19. Cardiac complications occurred in 9.3% of patients as follows: acute coronary syndromes in 1.3%, heart failure in 4.4%, atrial fibrillation in 4.5%, sinus bradycardia 1.9%, ventricular tachycardia in 0.5% and complete heart block in 0.01%. Mortality was significantly higher in patients with the cardiac complications mentioned (20%) than in those without them (2.9%) (odds ratio 7.2, 95% CI, 6.7–7.7; p < 0.0001). Older males seem to have higher incidence of cardiac complications and mortality. ConclusionsPatients with COVID-19 who have cardiac complications have a higher risk of mortality when compared to those without cardiac complications.