Characteristics of cardiac injury complicating with acute kidney injury and mortality risk in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients

Objectives: This study aimed to identify the clinical features of cardiac injury complicating with acute kidney injury (AKI) and its risk for a fatal outcome in patients infected with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia. Methods: Initial signs and symptoms and clinical laboratory, radiological, and treatment information were obtained from seven hospitals in China from January 23, 2020, to March 15, 2020. Results: Of 438 patients, 36 (8.22%) displayed isolated cardiac injury, 17 (3.88%) had isolated AKI, and 17 (3.88%) displayed cardiac injury complicating with AKI. Compared with patients without cardiac injury or AKI, patients with isolated cardiac injury, isolated AKI, and cardiac injury complicating with AKI were older (55, 65, 74 vs. 48 years, P < 0.0001) and critically severe. More patients displayed fatigue, dyspnea, and comorbidities in the group with cardiac injury complicating with AKI. Moreover, the indexes reflecting myocardial, renal, liver, and coagulation dysfunctions and infection-related factors were significantly different among the four groups. After adjustment for covariates, patients with cardiac injury complicating with AKI had a higher hazard ratio for mortality (6.64; 95% confidence interval, 1.51–29.30). Conclusion: Cardiac injury complicating with kidney injury significantly increased the risk for in-hospital mortality in COVID-19 pneumonia patients. Therefore, early detection at admission and careful monitoring of myocardial and renal injury through biomarkers during hospitalization is recommended to reduce the harm to patients.