1 Aug 2023 • Researchers in Europe conducted a study to investigate the use of azithromycin in patients with a history of cardiovascular disease hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

• They identified 793 patients who received azithromycin within 24 hours of hospital admission and 2,141 patients who received standard care.

• Among the cohort, 36.4% had preexisting CVD. The main outcomes studied were 30-day mortality and acute heart failure (HF), occurring in 21% and 8.6% of the cohort, respectively.

• The results showed that azithromycin was significantly associated with an increased risk of acute HF in patients with preexisting CVD compared to standard care. However, there was no significant association between azithromycin use and 30-day mortality in this group.

• In contrast, among patients without prior CVD, azithromycin did not significantly increase the risk of acute HF compared to standard care, and it was associated with a reduced risk of 30-day mortality.

• Furthermore, the relative risk for 30-day mortality was lower in patients without prior CVD compared to those with preexisting CVD. There was also a significant association between acute HF and death.

These findings suggest that the use of azithromycin in patients with a history of CVD hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 infection may be associated with an increased risk of acute HF. However, in patients without prior CVD, azithromycin did not increase the risk of acute HF and was linked to a lower risk of mortality.

Source: Healio | Read full story