Cardiac complications of COVID-19

Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has been known to link 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. The study in Indian Heart Journal reports the complications.

Researchers compared patients with and without cardiac complications in patients with COVID-19 and obtained survival data.

The study included 81,844 patients with COVID-19. Based on the sample size, it was found that 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%.

The Mortality rate was significantly higher in patients with the cardiac complications mentioned (20%) than in those without them (2.9%). Older males seem to have higher incidence of cardiac complications and mortality.

Researchers ended that patients with COVID-19 who have cardiac complications have a higher risk of mortality when compared to those without cardiac complications.

Reference: Jayasree Pillarisetti, Mubeen S. Cheema; Cardiac complications of COVID-19: Incidence and outcomes, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ihj.2022.04.00.