IMPACT OF SOCIAL DISTANCING DURING THE SARS-COV-2 PANDEMIC ON THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN VIRAL RESPIRATORY ILLNESS AND CARDIOVASCULAR-RELATED EVENTS

ABSTRACT

SESSION TITLE Studies on COVID-19 Infections Posters SESSION TYPE Original Investigation Posters PRESENTED ON 10/18/2022 0130 pm - 0230 pm PURPOSE: Beyond conventional risk factors, studies suggest acute viral infections, including influenza, are a potential risk factor for development of acute cardiovascular (CV) related events such as acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and stroke. On Mar 31st, 2020, the Texas state governor instated a shelter-in-place or quarantine order. With social distancing and masking the exposure respiratory viral illnesses dropped. This study seeks to evaluate the impact of reduced viral infections on CV related events. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of patients admitted to 18 affiliated Baylor Scott & White Texas hospitals in north and central Texas from January 20th, 2020 to Jun 1st, 2020 and between January 20th, 2019 to Jun 1st, 2019. We defined the pre-quarantine period as January 20, 2020 – March 31, 2020. The quarantine period was defined as April 1, 2020 – Jun 1st, 2020. We investigated ACS and stroke risk associated with lab-confirmed respiratory virus panel- PCR (RVP) positivity using a self-controlled case series. RVP positivity was reviewed to determine the presence or absence of increased risk interval. Risk intervals were identified as 7 days after respiratory specimen collection and associated control intervals were one year before and one year after the risk intervals. RESULTS: There were 3,782 patients who had ACS or stroke from January 20th, 2020 to June 1st, 2020. Average monthly rate of positive viral infection was significantly lower during the state mandate social distancing period than before social distancing mandate (5.5 ± 4.6 vs 19.7 ± 4.2, p<0.0001). During the prequarantine period, for stroke, there was a significant difference in positive RVP between the prequarantine and quarantine period (10.8% vs 0%, P=0.009). For ACS, there was a significant difference in positive RVP between the prequarantine and quarantine period (16.2% vs 1%, P<0.001). Rhinovirus infections accounted for 67% of patients of stroke prequarantine. Influenza accounted for 40% of infections in patients with ACS. Admissions for CV related events were higher in the pre-quarantine period compared to the quarantine period (893 vs 695 strokes;1,227 vs 967 ACS). Patients in the pre-quarantine and quarantine were similar in age and gender. For stroke, there was no significant difference in the type of stroke between the two time periods with ischemic stroke occurring in 67% of patients. For ACS, there was no significant difference in type with non ST-elevation MI occurring in 44% of patients. There was no statistical difference of survival to discharge or readmission at 30 days between the two periods. CONCLUSIONS: In our multicenter study, we note significant decline in cardiovascular events due to viral illness. This study strengthens the association between viral infections and cardiovascular events. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS This study reveals implications of cardiovascular events following viral illness. DISCLOSURES No relevant relationships by Tayler Acton no disclosure on file for Alex Arroliga;No relevant relationships by Jason Ettlinger No relevant relationships by Shekhar Ghamande No relevant relationships by Mufaddal Mamawala No relevant relationships by Abirami Subramanian No relevant relationships by Heath White