Post –acute sequalae of COVID-19 and cardiac outcomes in U. S. military members

Abstract

Post –acute sequalae of COVID-19 (PASC) among U.S. military members remains unexplored. A cohort study of U. S. military members who had a COVID-19 test result, with the specimen collected between March 1, 2020 and November 30, 2021 was conducted. Demographic, inpatient and outpatient data including cardiac event diagnoses were extracted from electronic medical records and compared COVID-19 test-positive and COVID-19 test-negative service members. We used univariate and multivariable logistic regression methods to determine the effect PASC on select cardiac events. Among 997,785 service members, 15,779 (1.6%) were diagnosed with a cardiac event. In fully adjusted models, PASC was significantly associated with increased odds of any cardiac event [OR =1.64 (95% CI: 1.57, 1.71]. PASC was associated with increased odds of myocarditis [OR = 5.86 (95% CI: 4.22, 8.15)], pericarditis [OR =3.08 (95% CI: 2.31, 4.11)], syncope [OR =1.52 (95% CI: 1.41, 1.63)], tachycardia [OR =1.72 (95% CI: 1.56, 1.89)], heart failure [OR =2.15 (95% CI: 1.76, 2.63)], bradycardia [OR =1.71 (95% CI: 1.50, 1.96)], and atrial fibrillation [OR =1.33(95% CI: 1.02, 1.74)] in fully adjusted models. In a sensitivity analysis of military members with no history of cardiac events, PASC was still significantly associated with increased odds of any cardiac event [OR =1.75 (95% CI: 1.67, 1.84)]. In conclusion, we observed a significant association between PASC and cardiac outcomes including; myocarditis, pericarditis, and heart failure. These associations were observed in a relatively young and healthy population and among those without pre-existing cardiac diagnoses.