Vascular Comorbidities Worsen Prognosis of Patients with Heart Failure Hospitalized with COVID-19

Abstract

Background: Prior diagnosis of heart failure (HF) is associated with increased length of hospital stay (LOS) and mortality from Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Associations between substance use, venous thromboembolism (VTE), or peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and its effects on LOS or mortality in patients with HF hospitalized with COVID-19 remains unknown. Objective: This study identified risk factors associated with poor in-hospital outcomes among patients with HF hospitalized with COVID-19. Methods: Case control study was conducted of patients with prior diagnosis of HF hospitalized with COVID-19 at an academic tertiary care center from January 1, 2020 to February 28, 2021. Patients with HF hospitalized with COVID-19 with risk factors were compared with those without risk factors for clinical characteristics, length of stay (LOS), and mortality. Multivariate regression was conducted to identify multiple predictors of increased LOS and in-hospital mortality in patients with HF hospitalized with COVID-19. Results: Total of 211 HF patients were hospitalized with COVID-19. Females had longer LOS than males (9 days vs. 7 days; p < 0.001). Compared with patients without peripheral arterial disease (PAD) or ischemic stroke, patients with PAD or ischemic stroke had longer LOS (7 days vs. 9 days; p = 0.012 and 7 days vs. 11 days, p < 0.001; respectively). Older patients (aged 65 and above) had increased in-hospital mortality compared to younger patients (Adjusted OR: 1.04; 95% CI: 1.00-1.07; p = 0.036). VTE increased mortality more than three-fold in patients with HF hospitalized with COVID-19 (Adjusted OR: 3.33; 95% CI: 1.29-8.43; p = 0.011). Conclusion: Vascular diseases increase LOS and mortality in patients with HF hospitalized with COVID-19.