Myocardial injury and cardiovascular complications in COVID-19: a cohort study in severe and critical patients. / Lesão miocárdica e complicações cardiovasculares na COVID-19: estudo de coorte em pacientes graves e críticos.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize myocardial injury and cardiovascular complications and their predictors in severe and critical COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit. METHODS: This was an observational cohort study of severe and critical COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit. Myocardial injury was defined as blood levels of cardiac troponin above the 99th percentile upper reference limit. Cardiovascular events considered were the composite of deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, stroke, myocardial infarction, acute limb ischemia, mesenteric ischemia, heart failure and arrhythmia. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression or Cox proportional hazard models were used to determine predictors of myocardial injury. RESULTS: Of 567 patients with severe and critical COVID-19 admitted to the intensive care unit, 273 (48.1%) had myocardial injury. Of the 374 patients with critical COVID-19, 86.1% had myocardial injury, and also showed more organ dysfunction and higher 28-day mortality (56.6% versus 27.1%, p < 0.001). Advanced age, arterial hypertension and immune modulator use were predictors of myocardial injury. Cardiovascular complications occurred in 19.9% of patients with severe and critical COVID-19 admitted to the intensive care unit, with most events occurring in patients with myocardial injury (28.2% versus 12.2%, p < 0.001). The occurrence of an early cardiovascular event during intensive care unit stay was associated with higher 28-day mortality compared with late or no events (57.1% versus 34% versus 41.8%, p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Myocardial injury and cardiovascular complications were commonly found in patients with severe and critical forms of COVID-19 admitted to the intensive care unit, and both were associated with increased mortality in these patients.

OBJETIVO: Caracterizar a lesão miocárdica e as complicações cardiovasculares e seus preditores em pacientes graves e críticos com COVID-19 admitidos à unidade de terapia intensiva. MÉTODOS: Este foi um estudo de coorte observacional em pacientes graves e críticos com COVID-19 admitidos à unidade de terapia intensiva. A lesão miocárdica foi definida como níveis sanguíneos de troponina cardíaca acima do limite de referência superior ao percentil 99. Os eventos cardiovasculares considerados foram combinação de trombose venosa profunda, embolia pulmonar, acidente vascular cerebral, infarto do miocárdio, isquemia aguda de membros, isquemia mesentérica, insuficiência cardíaca e arritmia cardíaca. Regressão logística univariada e multivariada ou modelos de risco proporcional de Cox foram utilizados para determinar os preditores de lesão miocárdica. RESULTADOS: Foram admitidos à unidade de terapia intensiva 567 pacientes graves e críticos com COVID-19, dos quais 273 (48,1%) apresentavam lesão miocárdica. Dos 374 pacientes críticos com COVID-19, 86,1% tinham lesão miocárdica, além de apresentarem mais disfunção orgânica e maior mortalidade aos 28 dias (56,6% versus 27,1%; p < 0,001). Foram preditores de lesão miocárdica idade avançada, hipertensão arterial e uso de imunomoduladores. Complicações cardiovasculares ocorreram em 19,9% dos pacientes graves e críticos com COVID-19 admitidos à unidade de terapia intensiva, e a maioria dos eventos deu-se em pacientes com lesão miocárdica (28,2% versus 12,2%; p < 0,001). A ocorrência de evento cardiovascular precoce durante internação em unidade de terapia intensiva estava associada à maior mortalidade aos 28 dias em comparação com eventos tardios ou inexistentes (57,1% versus 34,0% versus 41,8%; p = 0,01). CONCLUSÃO: Pacientes com formas graves e críticas de COVID-19 admitidos à unidade de terapia intensiva foram comumente diagnosticados com lesão miocárdica e complicações cardiovasculares, e ambas estavam associadas à maior mortalidade nesses pacientes.

Excess mortality is associated with influenza A (H1N1) in patients with severe acute respiratory illness.

BACKGROUND: Acute respiratory infections caused by viruses are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. The inflammatory response that follows viral infection is important for the control of virus proliferation. However, if overwhelming, may be associated with complicated outcomes. OBJECTIVES: We assessed the clinical characteristics of patients with severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) evolving to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and the factors related to death. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study in 273 adult patients with SARI performed in a university-affiliated 800-bed hospital serving an area of epidemiologic vigilance of 102 municipalities and more than 2 million inhabitants. Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 (A/H1N1), influenza A H3N2, and influenza B were tested in all patients by RT-PCR. RESULTS: The overall hospital mortality rate was 17.6%. A total of 30.4% of patients tested positive for influenza A/H1N1. Patients with SARI that evolved to ARDS took significantly longer to take the first dose of oseltamivir (6.0 vs 1.0 days, p=0.002). Patients with H1N1 positive tests had almost 3 times higher probability of death, despite having significantly less comorbidities (p=0.027). The influenza A/H1N1 pdm09 vaccine reduced the odds of death by 78%. Nonsurvivors had a more intense inflammatory response than did survivors at 48 h (C-reactive protein: 31.0 ± 17.5 vs. 14.6 ± 8.9 mg/dl, p=0.001) as well as a more positive fluid balance. CONCLUSIONS: Hospital mortality associated with influenza H1N1-associated SARI and ARDS continued to be high years after the 2009 pandemic in a population with low vaccine coverage. Antiviral treatment started more than two days after onset of symptoms was more frequently associated with ARDS and death and, having had vaccine against influenza A (H1N1) was a factor independently related to survival.

Lesão miocárdica e complicações cardiovasculares na COVID-19: estudo de coorte em pacientes graves e críticos / Myocardial injury and cardiovascular complications in COVID-19: a cohort study in severe and critical patients

RESUMO Objetivo: Caracterizar a lesão miocárdica e as complicações cardiovasculares e seus preditores em pacientes graves e críticos com COVID-19 admitidos à unidade de terapia intensiva. Métodos: Este foi um estudo de coorte observacional em pacientes graves e críticos com COVID-19 admitidos à unidade de terapia intensiva. A lesão miocárdica foi definida como níveis sanguíneos de troponina cardíaca acima do limite de referência superior ao percentil 99. Os eventos cardiovasculares considerados foram combinação de trombose venosa profunda, embolia pulmonar, acidente vascular cerebral, infarto do miocárdio, isquemia aguda de membros, isquemia mesentérica, insuficiência cardíaca e arritmia cardíaca. Regressão logística univariada e multivariada ou modelos de risco proporcional de Cox foram utilizados para determinar os preditores de lesão miocárdica. Resultados: Foram admitidos à unidade de terapia intensiva 567 pacientes graves e críticos com COVID-19, dos quais 273 (48,1%) apresentavam lesão miocárdica. Dos 374 pacientes críticos com COVID-19, 86,1% tinham lesão miocárdica, além de apresentarem mais disfunção orgânica e maior mortalidade aos 28 dias (56,6% versus 27,1%; p < 0,001). Foram preditores de lesão miocárdica idade avançada, hipertensão arterial e uso de imunomoduladores. Complicações cardiovasculares ocorreram em 19,9% dos pacientes graves e críticos com COVID-19 admitidos à unidade de terapia intensiva, e a maioria dos eventos deu-se em pacientes com lesão miocárdica (28,2% versus 12,2%; p < 0,001). A ocorrência de evento cardiovascular precoce durante internação em unidade de terapia intensiva estava associada à maior mortalidade aos 28 dias em comparação com eventos tardios ou inexistentes (57,1% versus 34,0% versus 41,8%; p = 0,01). Conclusão: Pacientes com formas graves e críticas de COVID-19 admitidos à unidade de terapia intensiva foram comumente diagnosticados com lesão miocárdica e complicações cardiovasculares, e ambas estavam associadas à maior mortalidade nesses pacientes.

ABSTRACT Objective: To characterize myocardial injury and cardiovascular complications and their predictors in severe and critical COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit. Methods: This was an observational cohort study of severe and critical COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit. Myocardial injury was defined as blood levels of cardiac troponin above the 99th percentile upper reference limit. Cardiovascular events considered were the composite of deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, stroke, myocardial infarction, acute limb ischemia, mesenteric ischemia, heart failure and arrhythmia. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression or Cox proportional hazard models were used to determine predictors of myocardial injury. Results: Of 567 patients with severe and critical COVID-19 admitted to the intensive care unit, 273 (48.1%) had myocardial injury. Of the 374 patients with critical COVID-19, 86.1% had myocardial injury, and also showed more organ dysfunction and higher 28-day mortality (56.6% versus 27.1%, p < 0.001). Advanced age, arterial hypertension and immune modulator use were predictors of myocardial injury. Cardiovascular complications occurred in 19.9% of patients with severe and critical COVID-19 admitted to the intensive care unit, with most events occurring in patients with myocardial injury (28.2% versus 12.2%, p < 0.001). The occurrence of an early cardiovascular event during intensive care unit stay was associated with higher 28-day mortality compared with late or no events (57.1% versus 34% versus 41.8%, p = 0.01). Conclusion: Myocardial injury and cardiovascular complications were commonly found in patients with severe and critical forms of COVID-19 admitted to the intensive care unit, and both were associated with increased mortality in these patients.