Association between cardiovascular risk and coronavirus disease 2019: findings from 2021 National Health Interview Survey

Purpose: To examine the association between pre-existing cardiovascular disorders and the risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among community-dwelling adults in the United States. Methods: We analyzed data from the 2021 National Health Interview Survey, encompassing 28,848 nationally representative participants aged >= 18. We examined the association by two age groups, younger adults (aged 18-59) and older adults (aged >= 60). Weighted analyses were conducted to consider the complex sampling design used in the National Health Interview Survey. Results: The results show that 13.9% of younger and 8.2% of older adults were infected with coronavirus, corresponding to a nationwide estimate of 23,701,358 COVID-19 cases in younger adults and 6310,206 in older adults in 2021. Pre-existing cardiovascular risk factors (overweight, obesity, hypertension, and diabetes) in both age groups and pre-existing cardiovascular diseases (angina, heart attack, and coronary heart disease) in older adults were significantly associated with COVID-19 infection. Significant dose-response relationships existed between increased pre-existing cardiovascular risk factors and COVID-19 infection, with the strongest association in non-Hispanic Black, followed by Hispanic ethnicities and non-Hispanic White. Conclusions: Pre-existing cardiovascular disorders are significantly associated with the risk of COVID-19 infection. The magnitudes of this risk association are more substantial among minority populations. (c) 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study aimed to examine the association between pre-existing cardiovascular disorders and the risk of COVID-19 among community-dwelling adults in the United States. Data from the 2021 National Health Interview Survey were analyzed, and the results showed that both younger and older adults with pre-existing cardiovascular risk factors and diseases had a significantly higher risk of COVID-19 infection. This risk association was more substantial among minority populations.