COVID-19 outcomes in patients with pre-existing cardiovascular disease and risk factors: perspectives from a hospital in Ireland

COVID-19 has led to substantial changes in the provision of emergency healthcare services. International data suggest that COVID-19 is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in patients with pre-existing cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular risk factors. This study aimed to explore the association between pre-existing cardiovascular disease and/or cardiovascular risk factors and COVID-19 disease severity and outcomes in an Irish hospital. This retrospective study obtained data from a bioresource database of patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection (n=649) in a large hospital in Dublin. Data were collected on patients' demographic characteristics, cardiovascular diseases, cardiovascular disease risk factors and medications taken for cardiovascular conditions. The World Health Organization progression scale was used to assess the severity of COVID-19 infection in each patient. Cross-tabulation analysis was used to analyse associations between variables, with a P value of ≤0.05 indicating significance. Mortality rates were six times greater in patients with cardiovascular disease compared to those without cardiovascular disease (18.6% vs 3.1%). A higher percentage of patients with one or more cardiovascular risk factors had moderate (53.4%) or severe (19.1%) COVID-19 and higher mortality rates (10.7%) than those without cardiovascular risk factors. Of the patients who died from COVID-19 (n=40), 60.0% (n=24) had one or more cardiovascular diseases, while 80.0% (n=32) had one or more cardiovascular risk factors. Existing cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular risk factors increase the risk of more severe disease and worse clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Many cardiovascular risk factors are modifiable, so it is important to consider preventative education strategies designed to reduce modifiable risk factors to improve outcomes for patients with COVID-19.