Relation of interleukin-6 levels in COVID-19 patients with major adverse cardiac events

Abstract

Elevated interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels may correlate with disease severity in COVID-19. We analyzed whether there was an association between elevated IL-6 levels and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and/or mortality in COVID-19 patients. A retrospective chart review was performed on COVID-19 patients among four hospitals in one health system from March to May 2020, extracting information on baseline characteristics, MACE (i.e., myocardial infarction, stroke, deep venous thrombosis/pulmonary embolism, or shock requiring vasopressor support), mortality, and IL-6 levels. Of the 496 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, 191 patients had an IL-6 level drawn and 68% had elevated IL-6 levels. The elevated IL-6 population had higher odds of developing a MACE compared to the normal IL-6 population (P < 0.0001, odds ratio [OR] = 5.91, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.65–14.11). The elevated IL-6 population also had higher mortality rates (28.2% vs 5%, P = 0.0001, OR = 7.47, 95% CI = 2.19–39.32) and an increased incidence of a MACE and/or mortality (58.78% vs 20.00%, P < 0.0001, OR = 5.7, 95% CI 2.65–12.83) compared to the normal IL-6 population. Elevated IL-6 levels in COVID-19 patients may be associated with MACE and/or mortality. Monitoring IL-6 levels in COVID-19 patients may help risk-stratify patients.

Keywords:

• Cardiovascular outcomes
• COVID-19
• interleukin-6
• MACE
• mortality
• SARS-CoV-2

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors thank medical writer Anne R. Murray, PhD, of the Methodist Health System Clinical Research Institute for providing editorial support.