• Kashif B Naeem, Mahmood Y Hachim, Ibrahim Y Hachim, Ayman Chkhis, Rajesh Quadros, Haifa Hannawi, Issa Al Salmi, Fahdah Alokaily, and Suad Hannawi.
• Ministry of Health and Prevention, Mohammed bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. E-mail. kbncardiology@yahoo.co.uk.
• Saudi Med J. 2020 Nov 1; 41 (11): 1204-1210.

ObjectivesTo evaluate acute cardiac injury in COVID-19 patients and its association with adverse outcomes including mortality in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) population.MethodsA retrospective study conducted between February and June 2020 in Dubai, UAE, for all laboratory-confirmed Coronavirus disease-19 patients. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, radiological, and clinical outcomes were compared between patients with and without acute cardiac injury.ResultsDuring the study period, 203 patients were included, of which, 44 (21.7%) had evidence of acute cardiac injury. Compared with patients without acute cardiac injury, patients with acute cardiac injury were: older, had more shortness of breath, diabetes, hypertension, and more bilateral airspace shadowing on admission chest radiography. These patients also had a higher neutrophil count, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, ferritin, D-dimers and lactate dehydrogenase but lower lymphocyte count. Regarding outcomes, these patients had higher intensive care admissions; a higher rate of complications including acute kidney and liver injury, acidosis, septic shock, acute respiratory distress syndrome, needed more mechanical ventilation, and had a significantly higher risk of death.ConclusionAcute cardiac injury is common among Coronavirus disease-19 patients. These patients present with higher comorbidities, have high inflammatory markers and have greater risk for in-hospital multi-organ damage, need for mechanical ventilation, and death. Prompt full assessment and intervention are recommended.

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