WORLD HEART FEDERATION (WHF) COVID-19 and Cardiovascular Disease Survey

COVID-19 may be cardiotropic in a subset of patients. Both acute and pre-existing CVD
impact outcomes unfavorably. It is possible that one common CVD treatment, medications
that impact ACE-2 function, may impact outcomes either favorably or unfavorably.

However, studies so far have, perforce, been conducted with important limitations (e.g.
small numbers, limited geographical representation, lack of data standardization for risk
factors and outcomes, limited measurement, lack of appropriate adjustment for important
confounders, and missing data). Considering the high global prevalence of CVD and its
risk factors (e.g. hypertension and diabetes) and the suggested link with COVID19 it is
urgent to initiate more robust studies to clarify the many issues early reports have
engendered. So that investigators will conduct a global study for a better understanding
of the cardiovascular conditions that increase the risk of developing severe COVID-19,
and a better characterization of cardiovascular complications in hospitalized patients
with COVID-19.

Given the continued increase in the COVID-19 cases worldwide, the study team launched WHF
COVID-19 and CVD Extension Study to continue recruitment of the COVID-19 patients
hospitalized in the selected high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries (sample
size = 3300 patients). This extension study will provide valuable insights on the
temporal trends in clinical characteristics of COVID-19, the specific cause of deaths
such as sudden cardiac death and its relationship with COVID-19 infection, the impact of
COVID-19 vaccination on the clinical outcomes at discharge and overall mortality, and
anti-microbial resistance and its association with outcomes in COVID-19 patients.

Further, the study team is also conducting a WHF COVID-19 Long-term follow-up Study in a
sample of 2000 patients from the WHF COVID-19 extension study that aims to determine the
short- (3 month), medium- (6 month) and long-term (9-12 month) sequelae to COVID-19
including ongoing symptomatology, re-hospitalizations, mortality, impact on physical
function and psycho-social consequences. The long-term sequelae of COVID-19 post hospital
discharge are unknown, and the trajectories are likely to be heterogeneous across
countries. This study will provide invaluable information about the intermediate to
long-term effects of COVID-19 and the disease burden and economic impact of COVID-19 on
patients with long term sequelae.

Sample Size:

1. WHF COVID-19 and CVD Study (primary cohort): 5200 participants

2. WHF Extension Study: 3300 participants

3. WHF Long term follow-up Study: approx. 2200 participants