A National Perspective on the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Heart Failure Hospitalizations in the United States.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Nationwide data of the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on Heart Failure (HF) hospitalizations is lacking. We conducted this study to elucidate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on HF hospitalizations. Additionally, we assessed the differences in hospitalization characteristics during the pandemic and the impact that a concurrent diagnosis of COVID-19 has on various outcomes and predictors of inpatient mortality among patients admitted for HF.

Methods

The National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database was queried for all hospitalizations with a primary diagnosis of HF between 2017 - 2020. Monthly HF hospitalizations were trended longitudinally over this period. Beginning April 1, 2020, concurrent COVID-19 infections were identified. Subsequently, we stratified HF hospitalizations between April 2020 and December 2020 (HF-2020) based on if concomitant COVID-19 was diagnosed, forming the HF-COVID+ve and HF-COVID-ve groups respectively. HF-2020 was also compared with pre-pandemic HF hospitalizations between April 2019 and December 2019 (HF-2019). Baseline characteristics were compared, and adjusted outcomes were obtained.

Results

During the initial COVID-19 surge in April 2020, HF admissions were reduced by 47% compared to January 2020. Following this decline, HF hospitalizations increased but did not reach pre-pandemic levels. HF-2020 admissions had an increased complication burden compared to HF-2019, including acute myocardial infarction (8.9% vs. 6.6%, p<0.005) and pulmonary embolism (4.1% vs. 3.4%, p<0.005) indicating a sicker cohort of patients. HF-COVID+ve hospitalizations had 2.9 times higher odds of inpatient mortality compared to HF-COVID-ve and an increased adjusted length of stay by 2.16 days (p<0.005).

Conclusion

A pandemic of the same magnitude as COVID-19 can overwhelm even the most advanced health systems. Early resource mobilization and preparedness is essential to provide care to a sick cohort of patients like acute heart failure, who are directly and indirectly effected by the consequences of the pandemic which has worsened hospitalization outcomes.

SUBMITTER: Mishra T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10121154 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature