The world has nearly recovered from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Children
initially were thought to have only milder forms of the illness, but later realized
to have a less common but severe form of disease named multisystem inflammatory syndrome
in children (MIS-C) associated with COVID-19. Cardiac involvement is the most serious
manifestation of MIS-C.[1] The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in widespread disruption
of clinical care of all non-COVID illnesses. Children with congenital heart disease
(CHD) also suffered collateral damage due to a lack of surgical facilities during
the pandemic’s peak. However, the COVID-19 pandemic brought out some of humanity’s
best facets, including the ability to come together to fight off a crisis, resilience,
adaptability, and versatility. The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us a few lessons for
the future and in this editorial, we discuss some of the learnings concerning children
with heart disease.
COVID-19 AND HEALTH-CARE CHALLENGES
The initial phase of the pandemic posed serious challenges to the health-care infrastructure
across the world, more so in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). It exposed the
under-penetrated, under-funded, and under-staffed public health sector and unregulated
private health sector in India. India’s response to the pandemic was commendable,
However, COVID-19 provided a much-needed wake-up call for the health-care system in
our country. We effectively managed the four essential components of surge capacity
including staff, supplies, space, and structure. The way we were able to source increased
capacity in oxygen generation and manufacture ventilators, personal protective equipment
kits, masks, face shields, sanitizers, and intensive care unit beds is commendable.
The major achievements included the development, mass production, and free-of-cost
administration of the indigenous COVID-19 vaccine-Covaxin, and the mass production
of Covishield vaccine. India also demonstrated its ability in delivering care to the
140-crore population with effective use of technology (CoWIN and Aarogya Setu applications)
on a massive scale that has never been seen in our country.
MANAGING CHILDREN WITH HEART DISEASE
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought even the developed nation to its knees and overwhelmed
the health infrastructure globally.[2] The COVID-19 pandemic created a crisis in the
care of children with heart disease arising from both demand and supply side issues.
Some possible reasons are summarized in Table 1. The challenges were unforeseen, and
especially pronounced in LMICs like India, where the centers caring for children with
heart disease are limited. A large, multicentric, retrospective study by Choubey et
al.[3] reported outpatient footfalls, admission statistics, and procedural numbers
during the first wave from 24 pediatric cardiac centers across the country and compared
it with the corresponding period in 2019. The study documented 68%–75% reductions
in outpatient visits (from 54,213 to 13,878), hospitalizations, cardiac surgeries,
and catheterization procedures. This is despite the maternal and neonatal care services
being functional during most of the lockdown in India.
Table 1
Potential concerns and consequences of COVID-19 among children with heart disease
Supply-side
Closure of OPD, inpatient services
Diversion of resources for COVID-19 care
Postponement of elective surgeries
Changing hospital priorities and policies
Restrictions posed by the local government
Healthcare personnel safety
Need for social distancing
Demand side
Fear of acquiring COVID-19
COVID-19 infection in caregivers
Lack of transportation/ambulances
Need to travel longer distances to reach a CHD-care centre-logistic issues
Affordability due to job cuts (out-of-hospital expenses)
Potential consequences for CHD surgeries
Increased death rate for children with CHD
Late presentation
Higher risk candidate for delayed surgery
Become inoperable in CHD-PAH situations
Poorer neuro-developmental outcome
CHD: Congenital heart disease, OPD: Outpatient department, PAH: Pulmonary arterial
hypertension
Across the globe, hospitalization rates and rates of health system utilization decreased
significantly during the pandemic. Pediatric cardiac admissions and procedures were
reduced by 20%–40% in North America,[4] Europe,[5] and South Africa.[6] India has
unique geographic, socioeconomic, and health-care access-related hurdles, which makes
it difficult to compare data from other countries.[7] However, data from a similar
time frame from India suggest that children with CHD suffered more during the pandemic.
The admissions for acute myocardial infarction in India decreased by 35%[8
9] and acute heart failure hospitalization by 50%.[10] Moreover, the utilization rate
of coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention decreased only by 11.3%
and 5.9%, respectively, during a similar time frame from across the country.[9] In
challenging situations, care for children gets lesser priority, which is a major learning
from the pandemic.
On the positive side, emergency procedures including arterial switch surgery, total
anomalous venous connection repair, and balloon atrial septostomy showed the least
decline during this period. Government-funded tertiary care centers reported a greater
reduction[3
9] for obvious reasons and took a long time to normalize services. Data are needed
on how these missed opportunities affect the natural history of CHD. Worryingly, the
care of children with heart disease during the pandemic resulted in higher in-hospital
mortality in India[3] and other LMIC countries but was not universally reported.[6
11] A greater proportion of complex surgeries, neonatal surgeries, emergency surgeries,
and operating on patients with an active or recent COVID-19 infection are likely reasons
for the higher postoperative mortality during the pandemic.[3
12] Furthermore, India and other LMIC countries had a higher proportion of unoperated
children admitted during the COVID-19 pandemic.[3] Interestingly, adverse events related
to pediatric cardiac catheterization did not increase, despite a high-severity case
mix in the US during the pandemic.[4] The quantum of impact and outcomes could be
different during the subsequent waves of the pandemic; however, systematic studies
are lacking.
OUTCOMES OF CHILDREN WITH HEART DISEASE AND COVID-19
There is evidence to suggest that children with CHD were not at a higher risk of acquiring
COVID-19 infection.[13] However, many studies suggested a higher risk of morbidity
among children with COVID-19 admitted to hospitals.[14
15] A large analysis of 339 cardiac patients from 35 international centers, who had
a recent COVID illness[16] reported a 25% hospitalization rate and 15% of children
required ICU care. The study reported an overall mortality of 5%, mostly from the
non-US centers.[16] A large retrospective study from India,[12] which included 94
hospitalized patients, however, reported a high mortality rate (13.8%). The study
is one of the largest and represents real-time, cross-sectional practice across India.
The chance of survival was the poorest among children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds,
children with severe cyanosis, and those who needed immediate ventilation on arrival.
Most of the studies identified infants, cyanotic CHD, recent cardiac procedures, complex
anatomy, advanced physiological state, and higher sickness at admission as the predictors
of outcomes among COVID-19-infected children with heart disease.[12
17
18] Other factors reported included male sex,[18] pulmonary hypertension.[18] obesity,[18]
and the presence of comorbidities.[17
18]
Concerns of a higher risk for MIS-C and pulmonary hemorrhage following cardiopulmonary
bypass posed significant challenges in operating among children with CHD presenting
with a COVID-19 infection.[19] However, only a handful of studies reported the outcome
of COVID-19-positive children who underwent cardiac surgery. Sen et al.[20] reported
the outcome of early cardiac surgery among 13 children after a mean interval of 25
days of an illness. They reported one death and a thrombotic complication. In the
current issue of APC, Sujana et al.[21] reported the outcome of 18 children who developed
MIS-C-like illness following major cardiac surgery. The incidence of unsuspected MIS-C
was 3.9%, despite 2 negative RT-PCT COVID-19 tests documented before elective cardiac
surgery. The children developed unusual postoperative worsening associated with ventricular
dysfunction and coronary dilatation associated with a positive antibody response to
COVID-19. Two children died despite intravenous immunoglobin (IVIG), steroids, and
antiplatelet drugs. Such unexpected inflammatory illness has been reported following
ASD device closure also.[22] A high index of suspicion and early aggressive anti-inflammatory
treatment improved outcomes. In the unlikely event of emergency surgery during a COVID-19
illness, a florid inflammatory illness may be prevented by a multipronged strategy
using steroids, IVIG, hemofiltration, use of cytokine-adsorbing hemofilter during
cardiopulmonary bypass, and early peritoneal dialysis.[23]
The ideal interval following COVID-19 infection before elective cardiac surgery is
not known. However, we may extrapolate from noncardiac surgery databases. A large,
multicenter, prospective cohort study from the COVIDSurg Collaborative suggested that
a nonemergent surgery should be delayed for at least 7 weeks following COVID-19 infection.[24]
A separate analysis suggested that LMIC countries reported further poorer outcomes
during the pandemic times.[25] However, pediatric surgeries had the best outcomes.[26]
Several risk stratification guidelines for CHD were published for triaging cardiac
procedures.[27
28]
MULTISYSTEM INFLAMMATORY SYNDROME IN CHILDREN IN INDIA–CARDIAC MANIFESTATIONS AND
OUTCOME
In the 2020 issue of Annals, Ferrero et al.[29] reported one of the earliest cardiac
descriptions of MIS-C from Italy. The authors noted all the essential features including
similarity with Kawasaki disease and myocardial dysfunction associated with transient
ECG and echocardiographic abnormalities. Subsequently, numerous case series from different
Indian institutions reported manifestations and outcomes of MIS-C.[30
31
32
33] Cardiac involvement is reported among 54%–60% of children in a systematic review[34]
and a large multisite retrospective Indian study.[35] The common and uncommon cardiac
manifestations of MIS-C are summarized in Table 2. In the current issue, Shah et al.[42]
report the medium-term outcomes of 144 children with MIS-C. It was reassuring that
complete resolution of cardiac manifestations was seen in the majority (92%) of children
within 3 weeks of illness. A multinational meta-analysis involving 547 children with
MIS-C reported a mortality of 2.5%.[43] Persistent left ventricular (LV) dysfunction
at 6 months was found only in 2% of children, compared to 47% in the acute phase.
Coronary abnormalities were observed in 25% during the acute phase, however, persisted
only in 5% at 6 months. Strain imaging, cardiac MRI (magnetic resonance imaging),
or the use of biomarkers picked up more cardiac involvement in MIS-C. In a recent
study, the longitudinal left atrial stain was abnormal in all 6 children despite normal
LV systolic and diastolic function parameters.[44]
Table 2
Cardiac manifestations of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children
LV dysfunction 50%
Shock
Coronary artery dilatation 25%
Mitral regurgitation
Pericardiac effusion
Thrombotic complications
Intracardiac thrombosis - in MIS-C[36]
Arrhythmias
Ventricular tachyarrhythmias
Atrial tachyarrhythmias
Atrial fibrillation[37]
First-degree and second-degree heart block
Complete heart block[38]
Vascular complications
Renal artery narrowing[39]
Ascending aortic pseudoaneurysm[40]
Infective endocarditis[41]
LV: Left ventricular, MIS-C: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children
Whitworth et al.[45] reported a 6.5% incidence of thrombosis in children with MIS-C.
The thrombosis rates were 0.7% and 2.1% among symptomatic COVID-19 and asymptomatic
SARS-CoV-2 infection children, respectively. Mehta et al.[38] reported the rare occurrence
of complete heart block in two children, of whom one recovered and one needed pacemaker
implantation. The authors have summarized all the uncommon electrophysiology abnormalities
seen in association with MIS-C. The conduction system blocks in MIS-C are like those
encountered in diphtheria and Lyme disease.[46]
Pediatric cardiologists are forced to make decisions without randomized controlled
trial (RCT) evidence, and the COVID-19 pandemic exemplified the conundrum. The treatment
strategies for MIS-C were mostly extrapolated knowledge from the management of Kawasaki
disease. Corticosteroids, IVIG, and anticoagulation formed the cornerstone of therapy.
A few multicenter studies tried to compare the outcomes of various regimens with conflicting
results,[47
48] and an RCT, the SwissPed recovery trial[49] was underpowered. Not doing a large
adequately powered RCT to compare the various treatment modalities for MIS-C is a
missed opportunity for pediatricians and pediatric cardiologists. Effective networks
must be established, to quickly answer important therapeutic decisions in future pandemics,
as it was done in adults during the pandemic.
The COVID-19 pandemic also had a positive impact on health-care infrastructure, research
and publications, medical education,[50] and patient perception of doctors. This presented
a unique opportunity for collaboration and many national and international multicenter
studies were carried out and reported during this period. Publication timelines were
fast-tracked internationally to allow the available research findings to become publicly
available, and this led to an early clinical impact with treatment guidelines being
updated at regular intervals throughout the pandemic. The forward momentum must be
carried forward and we should not simply go back to our old ways at the end of the
pandemic.
COVID-19 PANDEMIC: KEY LEARNINGS
Some of the key learnings from the pandemic include the fact that things evolve very
quickly than health systems ever imagined in the era of artificial intelligence, big
data, and modern communication. The public is more adaptable than some health-care
systems. Fear, risk, and goals are continuously redefined. Health-care systems have
a huge capacity for adaptation and resilience. The ability of the frontline systems
to rationalize and optimize the available resources with resilience during the crisis
is the most important lesson learned during the crisis. Telemedicine revolution, personal
hygiene, and reinforcement of infection control were the major gains during the pandemic.
We need direction to rethink the way health care is delivered. Some of the solutions[51
52] that we would like to implement in a future crisis are summarized in Table 3.
Table 3
Solutions for future challenges
Implement new care models
Realigning resources - space, personnel and supplies
Revamp governance
Rapid and timely policy change
Shared goals
Improve decision-making
Task sharing/task shifting
Incentivize and improve productivity
Semi-elective/urgent routine should continue
Essential acute care departments to function optimally
Transport and logistics of acute emergency care
Digital solutions
Telemedicine
Remote care for even hospitalized patients
No contact triaging
Standardized data and analytics
Setting up registries and starting relevant RCTs
Continuous monitoring of pandemic and nonpandemic-related outcomes
RCTs: Randomized controlled trials
For Indian children with CHD, we need to improve outcomes by defining appropriate
care during future pandemics. Furthermore, everyone is not treated equally,[53] especially
in a pandemic and the inequality widens. Indian children with CHD requiring cardiac
surgery are more vulnerable. We need to reorganize the way acute care for these children
is delivered with a focus on transport, finances, and logistics. Leadership and guidance
would play a major role. Societies such as the Pediatric Cardiac Society of India
should come up with registries, RCTs, position statements, guidelines, and evidence-based
recommendations on treatment protocols with regular updates based on the available
scientific research during such pandemics. We need to maintain public trust and protect
the staff as well as the patients. We need to apply digital solutions more widely.
The successful use of televideo consultations and outpatient management should be
carried forward even during nonpandemic times. The launch of the e-sanjeevani outpatient
department by the government is in the right direction. Indian pediatric cardiology
community should make the best use of it.
India is struggling with a huge burden of children with CHD needing intervention with
limited health-care resources. Over the past few decades, the government has made
efforts to reduce the cost and provide insurance coverage to the vast majority of
the Indian poor. The recent pandemic has brought this newly found energetic movement
to slow down significantly. Pediatric cardiac set-ups in India, especially the pay-for-service
hospitals, faced an existential crisis. Pediatric cardiac surgery in India is very
sensitive to the economic milieu. These hospitals faced supply-side constraints, cash
flow problems, higher costs, quarantine protocols, and loss of revenue. Fortunately,
most of them were able to innovate, restructure, and bounce back rather quickly from
the pandemic. The government on its part, never stopped the support schemes for emergency
surgeries.
However, in a country like India, COVID-19-related backlog cannot be cleared by returning
to pre-COVID-19 capacity. A recent study[54] showed the pandemic-related backlog of
procedures for severe aortic stenosis in adults and suggested strategies to overcome
the crisis. We must leverage additional capacity and implement evidence-based strategies
to minimize complications and prevent deaths among children awaiting cardiac surgery
in India.