The HEARRT-C Score: Is Aspirin Protective in COVID-19 Patients? A Single-Centre Retrospective Study

This study aimed to develop a scoring system to predict mortality risk in hospitalised COVID-19 patients using clinical, laboratory, and imaging data. A retrospective analysis was conducted at a single centre, including 325 patients admitted between March 2020 and December 2021. The data collected i...

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Main Authors: Zeynep Kumral, Ali Canturk, Ahmet Anil Baskurt, Abdullah Taylan, Ayse Colak, Ozer Badak
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:COVID
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8112/5/2/21
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author Zeynep Kumral
Ali Canturk
Ahmet Anil Baskurt
Abdullah Taylan
Ayse Colak
Ozer Badak
author_facet Zeynep Kumral
Ali Canturk
Ahmet Anil Baskurt
Abdullah Taylan
Ayse Colak
Ozer Badak
author_sort Zeynep Kumral
collection DOAJ
description This study aimed to develop a scoring system to predict mortality risk in hospitalised COVID-19 patients using clinical, laboratory, and imaging data. A retrospective analysis was conducted at a single centre, including 325 patients admitted between March 2020 and December 2021. The data collected included patient demographics, laboratory results, medications, and thoracic CT images. Pulmonary involvement was assessed using the CO-RADS classification, while coronary artery calcification (CAC), aortic calcification, and epicardial adipose tissue were evaluated with specific scoring methods. Mortality predictors were identified through univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models. The key mortality predictors identified in this study were an age above 67 years, elevated high-sensitivity troponin levels, a heart rate greater than 100 bpm, an oxygen saturation below 90%, the presence of CAC and aortic calcification, low haemoglobin levels, and the absence of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) use at admission. The developed HEARRT-C scoring system demonstrated a strong predictive ability, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.91, showing 81% sensitivity and 86% specificity for predicting mortality. This study concluded that the HEARRT-C score is an effective tool for early risk stratification in COVID-19 patients, which may guide management decisions and emphasise the importance of cardiovascular factors and the potential protective role of ASA.
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issn 2673-8112
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series COVID
spelling doaj-art-7ea0d8e46f1544fda72b2b524385506e2025-08-20T02:44:49ZengMDPI AGCOVID2673-81122025-02-01522110.3390/covid5020021The HEARRT-C Score: Is Aspirin Protective in COVID-19 Patients? A Single-Centre Retrospective StudyZeynep Kumral0Ali Canturk1Ahmet Anil Baskurt2Abdullah Taylan3Ayse Colak4Ozer Badak5Unye State Hospital, Ordu 52300, TurkeySBU Sultan 2. Abdülhamid Han Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul 34668, TurkeyIzmir Cigli Training and Research Hospital, Izmir 8780, TurkeyDr. Suat Seren Chest Diseases and Surgery Training and Research Hospital, Izmir 35170, TurkeyDokuz Eylul University Hospital, Izmir 35330, TurkeyDokuz Eylul University Hospital, Izmir 35330, TurkeyThis study aimed to develop a scoring system to predict mortality risk in hospitalised COVID-19 patients using clinical, laboratory, and imaging data. A retrospective analysis was conducted at a single centre, including 325 patients admitted between March 2020 and December 2021. The data collected included patient demographics, laboratory results, medications, and thoracic CT images. Pulmonary involvement was assessed using the CO-RADS classification, while coronary artery calcification (CAC), aortic calcification, and epicardial adipose tissue were evaluated with specific scoring methods. Mortality predictors were identified through univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models. The key mortality predictors identified in this study were an age above 67 years, elevated high-sensitivity troponin levels, a heart rate greater than 100 bpm, an oxygen saturation below 90%, the presence of CAC and aortic calcification, low haemoglobin levels, and the absence of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) use at admission. The developed HEARRT-C scoring system demonstrated a strong predictive ability, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.91, showing 81% sensitivity and 86% specificity for predicting mortality. This study concluded that the HEARRT-C score is an effective tool for early risk stratification in COVID-19 patients, which may guide management decisions and emphasise the importance of cardiovascular factors and the potential protective role of ASA.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8112/5/2/21COVID-19coronary artery calciumaortic calcificationsthorax CTacetylsalicylic acidprimary prevention
spellingShingle Zeynep Kumral
Ali Canturk
Ahmet Anil Baskurt
Abdullah Taylan
Ayse Colak
Ozer Badak
The HEARRT-C Score: Is Aspirin Protective in COVID-19 Patients? A Single-Centre Retrospective Study
COVID
COVID-19
coronary artery calcium
aortic calcifications
thorax CT
acetylsalicylic acid
primary prevention
title The HEARRT-C Score: Is Aspirin Protective in COVID-19 Patients? A Single-Centre Retrospective Study
title_full The HEARRT-C Score: Is Aspirin Protective in COVID-19 Patients? A Single-Centre Retrospective Study
title_fullStr The HEARRT-C Score: Is Aspirin Protective in COVID-19 Patients? A Single-Centre Retrospective Study
title_full_unstemmed The HEARRT-C Score: Is Aspirin Protective in COVID-19 Patients? A Single-Centre Retrospective Study
title_short The HEARRT-C Score: Is Aspirin Protective in COVID-19 Patients? A Single-Centre Retrospective Study
title_sort hearrt c score is aspirin protective in covid 19 patients a single centre retrospective study
topic COVID-19
coronary artery calcium
aortic calcifications
thorax CT
acetylsalicylic acid
primary prevention
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8112/5/2/21
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