Patients with symptomatic coronary artery disease are at the increased risk of worsening the course of the disease after recovery from COVID-19

Shalaeva, A. V.; Mirakhmedova, K. T.; Shadmanov, A. K.

Background and Aims: A global pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) resulted in restrictions on daily living, significant burden for the health care and public health system. The goal of the study was to explore if the COVID-19 disease has changed the course and treatment of patients with symptomatic coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods: This is a case-control study of patients with symptomatic CAD, who received in-hospital treatment at the multidisciplinary clinic. In September – November, 2020, 62 consecutive patient with symptomatic CAD admitted to the hospital 25-60 days after COVID-19 disease. We matched the patients characteristics of cases before COVID-19 to four other patients (controls) with the similar diagnosis, age, gender and comorbidities, known 3-months outcomes which were treated previously at the clinic and no history of COVID 19 disease. Results: All patients who had COVID-19 disease (cases) were required to increase antithrombotic medications, statins, antihypertensive drugs, glucose-lowering medications if diabetes соmpare to before-COVID-19 period compare to 24/248 controls. Of 62 cases, 9 had ST elevated myocardial infarction, 12 non-ST elevated myocardial infarction, 4 unstable angina and acute stroke, 24 with unstable angina, and 13 with the increased class of stable angina. Within 3 months after in-hospital treatment, 11/248 (4.4%) controls had major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Conclusions: Our findings may suggest that symptomatic CAD patients after COVID-19 disease are at an increased risk of MACE compared to those who did not get SARS-CoV-19 infection. Secondary and tertiary preventive measures are of utmost importance to prevent cardiovascular complications.