Short report: Hospitalization for new-onset heart failure in survivors of hospitalized COVID-19

Abstract

Aims

Previous studies have reported an incidence of new-onset heart failure (HF) among COVID-19 survivors ranging from 0.7 to 8.5 per 100 person-years, but they relied on administrative data for outcome ascertainment. Given the public health implications, a more accurate characterization of the HF burden post-COVID-19 is important.

Methods and results

We conducted a prospective cohort study of survivors of hospitalized COVID-19 and tracked the incidence of new-onset HF hospitalizations over the 12-month period following the index COVID-19 episode. Outcome ascertainment was based on a combination of chart reviews, patient interviews, and pre-specified clinical, radiographic and laboratory criteria. We identified 2140 survivors of COVID-19 hospitalization that were free of HF at the time of discharge. Their mean age was 67 years and 48% were Black/African-Americans. The incidence rate of hospitalized new-onset HF was 0.5 per 100 person-years. Higher BMI and dialysis dependency at baseline were significantly associated with HF development. The 1-year mortality rate was 3%.

Conclusions

The incidence of new-onset HF post-COVID-19 in our study was lower than in previous reports, despite involving an older population with more comorbidities and/or more severe COVID-19 overall. Reliance on administrative data for outcome adjudication in prior studies may have led to an overestimation of the HF burden post-COVID-19.