Hyperdynamic Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction Is Associated With Higher Mortality in COVID-19 Patients

Study objective: To compare the characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 patients with a hyperdynamic LVEF (HDLVEF) to those with a normal or reduced LVEF. Design: Retrospective study. Setting: Rush University Medical Center. Participants: Of the 1682 adult patients hospitalized with COVID-19, 419 had a transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) during admission and met study inclusion criteria. Interventions: Participants were divided into reduced (LVEF \u3c 50%), normal (≥50% and \u3c70%), and hyper- dynamic (≥70%) LVEF groups. Main outcome measures: LVEF was assessed as a predictor of 60-day mortality. Logistic regression was used to adjust for age and BMI. Results: There was no difference in 60-day mortality between patients in the reduced LVEF and normal LVEF groups (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.87, p = 0.68). However, patients with an HDLVEF were more likely to die by 60 days compared to patients in the normal LVEF group (aOR 2.63 [CI: 1.36–5.05]; p \u3c 0.01). The HDLVEF group was also at higher risk for 60-day mortality than the reduced LVEF group (aOR 3.34 [CI: 1.39–8.42]; p \u3c 0.01). Conclusion: The presence of hyperdynamic LVEF during a COVID-19 hospitalization was associated with an increased risk of 60-day mortality, the requirement for mechanical ventilation, vasopressors, and intensive care unit

Endocarditis Complicated by Severe Aortic Insufficiency in a Patient with COVID-19: Diagnostic and Management Implications

A 38-year-old man presented with cough, shortness of breath, and fatigue. He was diagnosed with Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) as well as Enterococcus faecalis bacteremia. Imaging revealed a subaortic membrane with aortic valve endocarditis and severe aortic insufficiency. He had successful aortic valve replacement with a mechanical prosthesis and subaortic membrane resection. This case highlights some of the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges presented by COVID-19 pandemic

A review of the impact, pathophysiology, and management of atrial fibrillation in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

Patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and atrial fibrillation (AF) have increased mortality and increased risk of stroke. Due to the heterogeneous nature of both disease processes, it is difficult to ascertain whether the diagnosis and progression of AF is the cause of deterioration or if it is a symptom of worsening heart failure. This presents physicians with a clinical conundrum of whether optimizing their heart failure will decrease the overall AF burden or if restoration of sinus rhythm is necessary to optimize patients with HFpEF. In this paper, we will review the impact of AF in patients with HFpEF, the pathophysiology and heterogeneity of HFpEF and AF, and the management of these patients. As HFpEF and AF become more prevalent, managing these disease processes needs standardization to improve outcomes. Further research is needed to understand the complex interplay between AF and HFpEF to help determine the best management strategy

Echocardiographic predictors of mortality and morbidity in COVID-19 disease using focused cardiovascular ultrasound

BACKGROUND: Focused transthoracic echocardiography (fTTE) has emerged as a critical diagnostic tool during the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing for efficient cardiac imaging while minimizing staff exposure. The utility of fTTE in predicting clinical outcomes in COVID-19 remains under investigation. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of 2,266 hospitalized patients at Rush University Medical Center with COVID-19 infection between March and November 2020 who received a fTTE. fTTE data were analyzed for association with primary adverse outcomes (60-day mortality) and with secondary adverse outcomes (need for renal replacement therapy, need for invasive ventilation, shock, and venous thromboembolism). RESULTS: Of the 427 hospitalized patients who had a fTTE performed (mean 62 years, 43% female), 109 (26%) had died by 60 days. Among patients with an available fTTE measurement, right ventricular (RV) dilation was noted in 34% (106/309), 43% (166/386) had RV dysfunction, and 17% (72/421) had left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. In multivariable models accounting for fTTE data, RV dilation was significantly associated with 60-day mortality (OR 1.93 [CI 1.13-3.3], p = 0.016). LV dysfunction was not significantly associated with 60-day mortality (OR 0.95 [CI: 0.51-1.78], p = 0.87). CONCLUSIONS: Abnormalities in RV echocardiographic parameters are adverse prognosticators in COVID-19 disease. Patients with RV dilation experienced double the risk for 60-day mortality due to COVID-19. To our knowledge, this is the largest study to date that highlights the adverse prognostic implications of RV dilation as determined through fTTE in hospitalized COVID-19 patients

Impact of pre-existing heart failure on 60-day outcomes in patients hospitalized with COVID-19

Background: In the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic, patients with cardiovascular disease represent a vulnerable population with higher risk for contracting COVID-19 and worse prognosis with higher case fatality rates. However, the relationship between COVID-19 and heart failure (HF) is unclear, specifically whether HF is an independent risk factor for severe infection or if other accompanying comorbidities are responsible for the increased risk. Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of 1331 adult patients diagnosed with COVID-19 infection between March and June 2020 admitted at Rush University System for Health (RUSH) in metropolitan Chicago, Illinois, USA. Patients with history of HF were identified by International Classification of Disease, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code assignments extracted from the electronic medical record. Propensity score matching was utilized to control for the numerous confounders, and univariable logistic regression was performed to assess the relationship between HF and 60-day morbidity and mortality outcomes. Results: The propensity score matched cohort consisted of 188 patients in both the HF and no HF groups. HF patients did not have lower 60-day mortality (OR 0.81; Conclusions: This study highlights the complex network of confounders present between HF and COVID-19. When balanced for these numerous factors, those with HF appear to be at no higher risk of 60-day mortality from COVID-19 but are at increased risk for morbidity