Characteristics and Outcome of COVID-19 Infection in Heart Transplantation Recipients in the Netherlands

PURPOSE: Immunocompromised patients are at high-risk for complicated COVID-19 infection. The aim of this study is to describe the characteristics and outcome of heart transplantation (HTx) recipients infected with COVID-19 in the Netherlands. METHODS: All HTx patients with a COVID-19 infection between February 2020 and June 2021, proven by positive polymerase chain reaction-test or positive serology in one of the three heart transplant centers in the Netherlands were retrospectively included. The primary endpoint of this study is all-cause mortality. RESULTS: COVID-19 was diagnosed in 54/665 (8%) HTx patients, mean time from HTx was 11±8 years, mean age 53±14 years and 39% were female. Immunosuppressive therapy was reduced in 37%, 21 (39%) patients required hospitalization and all-cause mortality was 6%. Severe COVID-19 disease (hospitalized with ICU admission or mortality) was seen in 7 (13%) patients. Compared to patients with mild (not hospitalized) or moderate (hospitalized, no ICU admission) COVID-19 infection, patients with severe COVID-19 infection were generally older (p=0.007) and had a history of ischemic heart failure (p=0.004) more frequently. Compared to patients with moderate COVID-19 infection, severe COVID-19 patients were transplanted earlier and had a significantly higher body mass index (30±3 vs 26±3; p=0.01). Myocardial infarction, cellular rejection and pulmonary embolism were observed once in three different HTx patients. Physical complaints post-infection persisted with a median of 30 days (IQR 30-83 days) in 16 (39%) cases. CONCLUSION: HTx patients are at increased risk for complicated COVID-19 infection with frequent hospitalization, but mortality is substantially lower than previously described.