477. Characteristics and Long-Term Outcomes of Cardiac Complications of SARS-CoV-2 in Youth: Results from the EPICC YES C3 Prospective Longitudinal Cohort Module
Authors: Jones Milissa U , Richard Stephanie A , Malloy Allison M , Liesemer Kirk N , Sainato Rebecca , May Joseph , Hughes Brian , Colombo Rhonda E , Huprikar Nikhil , Saunders David , Lindholm David , Mende Katrin , Schofield Christina , Ganesan Anuradha , Johnson Erik R , Nguyen Charles T , Turner Zachary S , Simons Mark P , Tribble David , O’Connell Robert , Agan Brian , Burgess Timothy , Hickey Patrick W , Dobson Craig , Pollett Simon , Flanagan Ryan 
Published: November 2023

Background

Few studies have described cardiac sequela of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children across the spectrum of acute COVID-19 disease severity, particularly milder outpatient cases without multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). We sought to define the frequency and long term outcomes of coronary artery aneurysms, depressed cardiac function, and other cardiac complications among youth positive for SARS-CoV-2.

Methods

EPICC is a multisite, prospective, COVID-19 cohort study of Military Health System (MHS) beneficiaries. Participants eligible for the Youth Echo Screening for Cardiac Complications of COVID (YES-C3) module were SARS-CoV-2 positive, age 0-22 years and without prior history of coronary aneurysm or autoimmune disease. Participants were scheduled for echocardiography (echo) and 12 lead electrocardiogram (ECG) at enrollment and four weeks after enrollment. Those with abnormal findings had repeated echo and ECG studies at 6 and/or 12 months; clinical data were abstracted from the medical record.

Results

Between January 2021 and March 2022, 154 participants were enrolled in the YES C3 module, with median age of 10.7 years (IQR 6.4- 17.2) (Table 1). 32%, 45%, and 23% experienced their first COVID-19 infection in the pre-Delta, Delta, and Omicron era, respectively. The majority of those enrolled did not require hospitalization, with only 2 of 154 (1.3%) hospitalized, both with MIS-C. 19% of participants were fully vaccinated at the time of their infection. Among 129 participants with an echo or an ECG, 4 (3.1% (95% CI 0.09%-7.7%)) had abnormalities attributed to COVID 19 (Table 2), including 1 MIS-C case. By 6-month follow up, all echo abnormalities had resolved without intervention and no deaths were noted out to 12 months post enrollment.

Conclusion

We observed few cardiovascular complications among YES C3 participants who generally experienced mild infection, with most enrolled in the pre-vaccine and pre-Omicron era. The frequency of MIS-C and cardiac abnormalities detected may reflect tertiary medical center enrollments. All echo abnormalities resolved within 3-6 months. Our findings support current guidelines which advise against routine screening echo or ECGs for young persons with mild SARS-CoV-2 infection without cardiac symptoms.

Disclosures

Mark P. Simons, PhD, AstraZeneca: The IDCRP and HJF were funded to conduct an unrelated phase III COVID-19 monoclonal antibody immunoprophylaxis trial as part of US Govt COVID Response David Tribble, MD, DrPH, AstraZeneca: The IDCRP and HJF were funded to conduct an unrelated phase III COVID-19 monoclonal antibody immunoprophylaxis trial as part of US Govt COVID response Timothy Burgess, MD, MPH, AstraZeneca: The IDCRP and the Henry M. Jackson Foundation (HJF) were funded to conduct an unrelated phase III COVID-19 monoclonal antibody immunoprophylaxis trial Simon Pollett, MBBS, AstraZeneca: The IDCRP and the Henry M. Jackson Foundation (HJF) were funded to conduct an unrelated phase III COVID-19 monoclonal antibody immunoprophylaxis trial