Association between COVID-19 and subsequent vascular events in primary care patients in Germany. (December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zappacosta, S.; Cascarano, A.; Konrad, M.; Tanislav, C.; Kostev, K.
• Is Part Of: Public health. Volume 213(2022)
• Page Start: 107
• Page End: 113
• Publication Date: 2022-12
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- Cardiovascular disease -- Cerebrovascular disease -- Real-world evidence -- German practice; Public health -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 362.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2022.10.005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0033-3506

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between COVID-19 diagnosis and the risk of developing a first-ever vascular event (VE) compared with the same risk in those with respiratory tract infection (RTI). Study design: This was a retrospective cohort study. Methods: This study using data from Disease Analyzer Database (IQVIA) included patients aged ≥18 years with at least one visit to a German practice during the index period. VEs were defined as cardiovascular or cerebrovascular events. Two cohorts were created: patients with a diagnosis of COVID-19 and those diagnosed with RTI. These were matched using propensity scores. Kaplan–Meier curves were created for the purposes of time to event analysis. A Poisson model was used to calculate incidence rates and derive incidence rate ratios (IRRs). Results: A total of 58, 904 patients were matched. There was no significant association between COVID-19 diagnosis and increased incidence of VE events among females (IRR [95% confidence interval (CI)]: 0.96 [0.82–1.11] and 1.30 [0.88–1.81]) or males (IRR, 95% CI: 0.91 [0.78–1.05] and 1.13 [0.80–1.62]). Overall, no significant association between COVID-19 diagnosis and incidence of VE was observed across age categories except for cardiovascular vascular events in the age category ≥70 years (IRR [95% CI]: 0.78 [0.67–0.94]). Conclusions: Overall, our study suggests that COVID-19 diagnosis was not associated with an increased risk of developing VE compared with RTI diagnosis. However, further research in a variety of healthcare settings and regions is needed to confirm these preliminary findings from our cohort, which is a good reflection of routine clinical practice in Germany.