Ethnicity and COVID-19 cardiovascular complications: a multi-center UK cohort

BACKGROUND: Recent reports suggest an association between ethnicity and COVID-19 mortality. In the present multi-center study, we aimed to assess the differences underlying this association, and ascertain whether ethnicity also mediates other aspects of COVID-19 like cardiovascular complications. METHODS: Data were collected from a mixed-ethnicity UK cohort of 613 patients admitted and diagnosed COVID-19 positive, across six hospitals in London during the second half of March 2020: 292 were White Caucasian ethnicity, 203 were Asian and 118 were of Afro-Caribbean ethnicity. RESULTS: Caucasian patients were older (P<0.001) and less likely to have hypertension (P=0.038), while Afro-Caribbean patients had higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus (P<0.001). Asian patients were more likely to present with venous thromboembolic disease (adj.OR=4.10, 95% CI 1.49-11.27, P=0.006). On the other hand, Afro-Caribbean had more heart failure (adj.OR=3.64, 95% CI 1.50-8.84, P=0.004) and myocardial injury (adj.OR=2.64, 95% CI 1.10-6.35, P=0.030). Importantly, our adjusted multi-variate Cox regression analysis revealed significantly higher all-cause mortality both for Asian (adj.HR=1.89, 95% CI 1.23-2.91, P=0.004) and Afro-Caribbean ethnicity (adj.HR=2.09, 95% CI 1.30-3.37, P=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that COVID-19 may have different presentations and follow different clinical trajectories depending on the ethnicity of the affected subject. Awareness of complications more likely to arise in specific ethnicities will allow a more timely diagnosis and preventive measures for patients at risk. Due to increased mortality, individuals of Afro-Caribbean and Asian ethnicity should be considered as high-risk groups. This may have an impact on health-resource allocation and planning, definition of vulnerable groups, disease management, and the protection of healthcare workers at the frontline

High sensitivity troponin and COVID-19 outcomes

Background: Recent reports have demonstrated high troponin levels in patients affected with COVID-19. In the present study, we aimed to determine the association between admission and peak troponin levels and COVID-19 outcomes. / Methods: This was an observational multi-ethnic multi-centre study in a UK cohort of 434 patients admitted and diagnosed COVID-19 positive, across six hospitals in London, UK during the second half of March 2020. / Results: Myocardial injury, defined as positive troponin during admission was observed in 288 (66.4%) patients. Age (OR: 1.68 [1.49–1.88], p <.001), hypertension (OR: 1.81 [1.10–2.99], p =.020) and moderate chronic kidney disease (OR: 9.12 [95% CI: 4.24–19.64], p <.001) independently predicted myocardial injury. After adjustment, patients with positive peak troponin were more likely to need non-invasive and mechanical ventilation (OR: 2.40 [95% CI: 1.27–4.56], p =.007, and OR: 6.81 [95% CI: 3.40–13.62], p <.001, respectively) and urgent renal replacement therapy (OR: 4.14 [95% CI: 1.34–12.78], p =.013). With regards to events, and after adjustment, positive peak troponin levels were independently associated with acute kidney injury (OR: 6.76 [95% CI: 3.40–13.47], p <.001), venous thromboembolism (OR: 11.99 [95% CI: 3.20–44.88], p <.001), development of atrial fibrillation (OR: 10.66 [95% CI: 1.33–85.32], p =.026) and death during admission (OR: 2.40 [95% CI: 1.34–4.29], p =.003). Similar associations were observed for admission troponin. In addition, median length of stay in days was shorter for patients with negative troponin levels: 8 (5–13) negative, 14 (7–23) low-positive levels and 16 (10–23) high-positive (p <.001). / Conclusions: Admission and peak troponin appear to be predictors for cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular events and outcomes in COVID-19 patients, and their utilisation may have an impact on patient management