COVID-19 in adults with congenital heart disease: early morbidity and mortality in two northern Italian specialist centers

Abstract

There is no information on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related outcomes for adult patients with congenital heart disease (ACHD) We aim to assess the clinical burden of COVID-19 on ACHD patients during the initial stages of the pandemic in Europe ACHD patients followed in 2 tertiary centers in the Lombardy region were screened for COVID-19-related symptoms and complications 661 patients (52 3% male, mean age 34 9 +/- 11 7 years) with CHD of moderate (58 5%) or high (32 8%) complexity were contacted Of these, 145 (21 9%) reported typical COVID-19 symptoms, but only 4 8% required hospitalization We did not record confirmed COVID-19-related deaths Patients hospitalized were elderly (P=0 03), more likely to be receiving diuretics (P=0 03) or beta-blockers (P=0 02), and have been admitted over the previous year (P=0 003) Of the 7 patients hospitalized, 2 had a systemic RV and 2 a Fontan circulation COVID-19-related morbidity and mortality have been low in ACHD patients 6 weeks from the start of the outbreak, in one of the worse hit European regions