ACC/AHA Issue Report for CV and Non-CV Complications of COVID-19
The American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Data Standards published a report June 23 listing and defining key data elements related to cardiovascular and noncardiovascular complications of COVID-19.
Published online on June 23 in Journal of the American College of Cardiology, Knowledge to Practices faculty member Biykem Bozkurt, MD, PhD, chaired the writing group.
Dr. Bozkurt, from Baylor College of Medicine (Houston, TX), is one of our Legends faculty. She most recently provided a series of activities for CurrentMD™ Cardiology reviewing new and emerging treatments for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), including a careful examination of the data supporting the use of SGLT2 inhibitors in heart failure.
The document is intended for use by researchers, registry developers, and clinicians and is proposed as a framework for ICD-10 code development of COVID-19-related cardiovascular conditions.
As part of the document, Dr. Bozkurt et al provided a “Top 10 Take Home Messages:”
- This document presents a clinical lexicon comprising data elements related to cardiovascular and noncardiovascular complications of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease-2019). The writing committee considered data elements that are pertinent to the full range of care provided to these patients and intended to be useful for all care venues, including presentations related to acute COVID-19 in the ambulatory as well as the hospital setting.
- Data elements for COVID-19 diagnoses include confirmed, probable, and suspected acute COVID-19 case definitions. Postacute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2) infection were also included.
- Acute cardiovascular complications related to COVID-19, including acute myocardial injury, heart failure, shock, arrhythmia, thromboembolic complications, and stroke, were defined.
- Data elements related to COVID-19 vaccination status, comorbidities, and preexisting cardiovascular conditions were provided.
- Postacute cardiovascular sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection and long-term cardiovascular complications of COVID-19 were defined.
- Data elements for cardiovascular mortality during acute COVID-19 were provided.
- Data elements for noncardiovascular complications were provided to help document the severity of illness and other competing diagnoses and complications that may affect cardiovascular outcomes.
- Symptoms and signs related to COVID-19 and cardiovascular complications were listed.
- Data elements for diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for COVID-19 and cardiovascular conditions were provided.
- Advanced therapies, including mechanical ventilation, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and end-of-life management strategies, were provided.
We applaud and congratulate Dr. Bozkurt and colleagues on this important contribution.