SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Is Atrial Fibrillation an Independent Risk Factor for Severe Covid-19 Infection?

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This retrospective cohort study examined whether atrial fibrillation (AF) independently predicts severe COVID-19 outcomes. Adult patients admitted to a large urban academic hospital between March 2020 and September 2021 were analyzed using electronic health record data. The study focused on two outcomes: escalation of care to the intensive care unit during hospitalization and in-hospital mortality.<br /><br />Researchers assessed AF and CHA2DS2-VASc score, along with other known risk factors for severe COVID-19, including age, sex, race, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, and obesity. Univariate analyses were performed for each variable against both outcomes.<br /><br />Among 41,245 admissions, 2,554 patients (6.2%) tested positive for COVID-19. Of these, 6% had documented AF. During hospitalization, 705 patients (27.6%) required escalation of care and 323 (12.6%) died. AF showed the strongest association with both ICU escalation and mortality. The CHA2DS2-VASc score was also statistically significant for both outcomes across the overall population.<br /><br />The study concluded that AF was significantly associated with worse in-hospital outcomes in COVID-19 patients at this institution. The CHA2DS2-VASc score may also be useful as a general risk stratification tool for COVID-19 severity, even in patients without AF. However, the authors noted that broader studies are needed to determine whether these findings are generalizable to other populations.

Asset Subtitle

Tatvam T. Choksi

Meta Tag

Author List Hui Zhang, Matthew Cerasale, Tatvam T. Choksi

Category Research

Concept Atrial Fibrillation

Concept COVID-19

Concept ICU

Concept Inpatient Mortality

Concept CHA2DS2-VASc Score

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization University of Chicago Medical Center

Presenting Author Tatvam T. Choksi

Track Outcomes Research

Keywords

atrial fibrillation

COVID-19

severe outcomes

intensive care unit

in-hospital mortality

retrospective cohort study

CHA2DS2-VASc score

risk stratification

electronic health records

hospitalized patients

Atrial Fibrillation

COVID-19

ICU

Inpatient Mortality

CHA2DS2-VASc Score