No abstract

Study objective Chest computed tomography (chest CT) is routinely obtained to assess disease severity in COVID-19. While pulmonary findings are well-described in COVID-19, the implications of cardiovascular findings are less well understood. We evaluated the impact of cardiovascular findings on chest CT on the adverse composite outcome (ACO) of hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Setting/participants 245 COVID-19 patients who underwent chest CT at Rush University Health System were included. Design Cardiovascular findings, including coronary artery calcification (CAC), aortic calcification, signs of right ventricular strain [right ventricular to left ventricular diameter ratio, pulmonary artery to aorta diameter ratio, interventricular septal position, and inferior vena cava (IVC) reflux], were measured by trained physicians. Interventions/main outcome measures These findings, along with pulmonary findings, were analyzed using univariable logistic analysis to determine the risk of ACO defined as intensive care admission, need for non-invasive positive pressure ventilation, intubation, in-hospital and 60-day mortality. Secondary endpoints included individual components of the ACO. Results Aortic calcification was independently associated with an increased risk of the ACO (odds ratio 1.86, 95% confidence interval (1.11–3.17) p < 0.05). Aortic calcification, CAC, abnormal septal position, or IVC reflux of contrast were all significantly associated with 60-day mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events. IVC reflux was associated with in-hospital mortality ( p = 0.005). Conclusion Incidental cardiovascular findings on chest CT are clinically important imaging markers in COVID-19. It is important to ascertain and routinely report cardiovascular findings on CT imaging of COVID-19 patients as they have potential to identify high risk patients.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with cardiac amyloidosis (CA) has been linked with a worse prognosis. The current study aimed to determine the outcomes of AF catheter ablation in patients with CA. The National Readmission Database (NRD) 2015-2019 was used to identify patients with AF and concomitant heart failure (HF). Among these, patients who underwent catheter ablation were classified into two groups, patients with and without CA. The adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of index-admission and 30-day readmission outcomes were calculated using a propensity score matched (PSM) analysis. A total of 148,134 patients with AF undergoing catheter ablation were identified on crude analysis. Using PSM analysis, 616 patients (293 CA-AF, 323 no-CA-AF) were selected based on a balanced distribution of baseline comorbidities. At index admission, AF ablation in patients with CA was associated with significantly higher adjusted odds of net adverse clinical events (NACE) (aOR 4.21, 95% CI 1.7-5.20), in-hospital mortality (aOR 9.03, 95% CI 1.12-72.70), and pericardial effusion (aOR 3.30, 95% CI 1.57-6.93) compared with non-CA AF. There was no significant difference in the odds of stroke, cardiac tamponade, and major bleeding between the two groups. At 30-day readmission, the incidence of NACE, and mortality remained high in patients undergoing AF ablation in CA. Compared with non-CA, AF ablation in CA patients is associated with relatively higher in-hospital all-cause mortality and net adverse events both at index admission and up to 30-day follow-up.

Introduction Ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) are common after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation though data are mixed on whether these events have an impact on mortality. Methods The National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database from 2002–2019 was queried for LVAD implantation admissions. Secondary ICD codes were analyzed to assess for the occurrence of VAs during this admission. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to control for confounding variables between those with versus without VAs. Results The NIS database from 2002–2019 contained 43 936 admissions with LVAD implantation. VAs occurred in 19 985 (45.4%) patients. After PSM, the study cohort consisted of 39 989 patients, 19 985 (50.0%) of which had a secondary diagnosis of VA during the admission. When compared to those without VA, those with VA were at no higher risk for in‐hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio 1.011, 99.9% CI 0.956–1.069, p = 0.699). Those with a VA were at higher risk for cardiogenic shock and requiring mechanical ventilation, tracheostomy, and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy placement. Patients with a VA were also at lower risk for device thrombosis. Conversely, the VA group was at no higher risk for stroke. In comparing trends from 2002 to 2019, the incidence of VAs has increased, while the mortality rate of those with and without VAs has decreased during this same period. Conclusion In this retrospective study of the NIS database, VAs were common (45.4%) during the LVAD implantation admission. However, the occurrence of VAs during the implantation admission did not alter in‐hospital mortality. More longitudinal studies are required to assess the long‐term impact of VAs on mortality. In comparing trends from 2002–2019, the incidence of VAs has increased, while the mortality rate of those with and without VAs has decreased.