The World Heart Federation Global Study on COVID-19 and Cardiovascular Disease
Karen Sliwa,
Kavita Singh,
Lana Raspail,
Dike Ojji,
Carolyn S.P. Lam,
Friedrich Thienemann,
Junbo Ge,
Amitava Banerjee,
L. Kristin Newby,
Antonio Luiz P. Ribeiro,
Samuel Gidding,
Fausto Pinto,
Pablo Perel,
Dorairaj Prabhakaran
Affiliations
Karen Sliwa
Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town; Hatter Institute for Cardiovascular Research in Africa & CHI, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa, World Heart Federation
Kavita Singh
Public Health Foundation of India, Gurugram, Haryana
Lana Raspail
World Heart Federation
Dike Ojji
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, University of Abuja, and University of Abuja Teaching Hospital
Carolyn S.P. Lam
National Heart Center Singapore and Duke-National University of Singapore, SG; Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen
Friedrich Thienemann
Hatter Institute for Cardiovascular Research in Africa and Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, ZA; Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich
Junbo Ge
Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University. Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Shanghai
Amitava Banerjee
University College London
L. Kristin Newby
Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham
Antonio Luiz P. Ribeiro
Cardiology Service and Telehealth Center, Hospital das Clínicas, and Department of Internal Medicine, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte
Samuel Gidding
World Heart Federation
Fausto Pinto
Santa Maria University Hospital, CAML, CCUL, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon
Pablo Perel
Department of Non-communicable Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, World Heart Federation
Dorairaj Prabhakaran
Centre for Control of Chronic Conditions, Public Health Foundation India, World Heart Federation, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Background: The emergence of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), has presented an unprecedented global challenge for the healthcare community. The ability of SARS-CoV-2 to get transmitted during the asymptomatic phase, and its high infectivity have led to the rapid transmission of COVID-19 beyond geographic regions facilitated by international travel, leading to a pandemic. To guide effective control and interventions, primary data is required urgently, globally, including from low- and middle-income countries where documentation of cardiovascular manifestations and risk factors in people hospitalized with COVID-19 is limited. Objectives: This study aims to describe the cardiovascular manifestations and cardiovascular risk factors in patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Methods: We propose to conduct an observational cohort study involving 5000 patients recruited from hospitals in low-, middle- and high-income countries. Eligible adult COVID-19 patients will be recruited from the participating hospitals and followed-up until 30 days post admission. The outcomes will be reported at discharge and includes the need of ICU admission, need of ventilator, death (with cause), major adverse cardiovascular events, neurological outcomes, acute renal failure, and pulmonary outcomes. Conclusion: Given the enormous burden posed by COVID-19 and the associated severe prognostic implication of CVD involvement, this study will provide useful insights on the risk factors for severe disease, clinical presentation, and outcomes of various cardiovascular manifestations in COVID-19 patients particularly from low and middle income countries from where the data remain scant.
