Heart injury signs are associated with higher and earlier mortality in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Abstract Importance Heart injury can be easily induced by viral infection such as adenovirus and enterovirus. However, whether coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) causes heart injury and hereby impacts mortality has not yet been fully evaluated. Objective To explore whether heart injury occurs in COVID-19 on admission and hereby aggravates mortality later. Design, Setting, and Participants A single-center retrospective cohort study including 188 COVID-19 patients admitted from December 25, 2019 to January 27, 2020 in Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital, China; follow up was completed on February 11, 2020. Exposures High levels of heart injury indicators on admission (hs-TNI; CK; CK-MB; LDH; α-HBDH). Main Outcomes and Measures Mortality in hospital and days from admission to mortality (survival days). Results Of 188 patients with COVID-19, the mean age was 51.9 years (standard deviation: 14.26; range: 21∼83 years) and 119 (63.3%) were male. Increased hs-TnI levels on admission tended to occur in older patients and patients with comorbidity (especially hypertension). High hs-TnI on admission (≥ 6.126 pg/mL), even within the clinical normal range (0∼28 pg/mL), already can be associated with higher mortality. High hs-TnI was associated with increased inflammatory levels (neutrophils, IL-6, CRP, and PCT) and decreased immune levels (lymphocytes, monocytes, and CD4 + and CD8 + T cells). CK was not associated with mortality. Increased CK-MB levels tended to occur in male patients and patients with current smoking. High CK-MB on admission was associated with higher mortality. High CK-MB was associated with increased inflammatory levels and decreased lymphocytes. Increased LDH and α-HBDH levels tended to occur in older patients and patients with hypertension. Both high LDH and α-HBDH on admission were associated with higher mortality. Both high LDH and α-HBDH were associated with increased inflammatory levels and decreased immune levels. hs-TNI level on admission was negatively correlated with survival days ( r = -0.42, 95% CI= -0.64∼-0.12, P=0.005). LDH level on admission was negatively correlated with survival days ( r = -0.35, 95% CI= -0.59∼-0.05, P=0.022). Conclusions and Relevance Heart injury signs arise in COVID-19, especially in older patients, patients with hypertension and male patients with current smoking. COVID-19 virus might attack heart via inducing inflammatory storm. High levels of heart injury indicators on admission are associated with higher mortality and shorter survival days. COVID-19 patients with signs of heart injury on admission must be early identified and carefully managed by cardiologists, because COVID-19 is never just confined to respiratory injury. Key points Question Does coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cause heart injury and hereby impact mortality? Findings In this retrospective cohort study including 188 patients with COVID-19, patients with high levels of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-TNI) on admission had significantly higher mortality (50.0%) than patients with moderate or low levels of hs-TNI (10.0% or 9.1%). hs-TNI level on admission was significantly negatively correlated with survival days ( r = -0.42, 95% CI= -0.64∼-0.12, P=0.005). Meaning COVID-19 patients with signs of heart injury on admission must be early identified and carefully managed by cardiologists, in order to maximally prevent or rescue heart injury-related mortality in COVID-19.