COVID-19 and congenital heart disease: a case series of nine children

Haji Esmaeil Memar, Elmira; Pourakbari, Babak; Gorgi, Mojtaba; Sharifzadeh Ekbatani, Meisam; Navaeian, Amene; Khodabandeh, Mahmoud; Mahmoudi, Shima; Mamishi, Setareh

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the current pandemic disease without any vaccine or efficient treatment to rescue the patients. Underlying diseases predispose the patients to a more severe disease and to a higher mortality rate. However, little evidence exists about COVID-19 outcomes in the pediatric population with congenital heart disease (CHD). Here, we report nine children with COVID-19 and concomitant CHD. METHODS: Our study included nine children with COVID-19 and concomitant CHD who were admitted to Children Medical Center Hospital during March and April 2020. The patients were classified based on the final outcome (death), and their clinical sign and symptoms, type of CHD, and drugs administered were compared. RESULTS: Among the nine patients, two died and we compared different characteristics, laboratory results and clinical findings of these cases based on the mortality. The deceased patients had severe types of CHD, worse arterial blood gases, severe clinical symptoms, higher mean level of partial thromboplastin time and C-reactive protein, and required more medications. CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed that the general consideration of mild COVID-19 in children does not include patients with CHD and that it is necessary to pay greater attention to children with CHD to determine guidelines for treatment of COVID-19 in these children. Owing to the scarcity of CHD and COVID-19, we reported only nine cases. However, further studies are highly required in this regard.