Lead Researcher: Dr Hari Prakash Sritharan
Supervised by: Professor Ravinay Bhindi & Dr Usaid Allahwala
PhD Scholarship: 2024-2025
Coronavirus disease (COVID‐19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), rapidly spread from China from late 2019, and the World Health Organization declared a pandemic in March 2020. The predominant manifestations of COVID‐19 are respiratory, but it can also affect the heart and vascular tissues with implications that include myocarditis, cardiomyopathy, myocardial injury, and arrhythmias.
Dr Hari Sritharan has been researching the cardiovascular outcomes of COVID-19 and the impact of vaccination in Australia, using comprehensive data and advanced analytical techniques. His research aims to inform clinical practice, enhance patient outcomes, and guide policy-making beyond the pandemic.
Dr Sritharan’s study comprises five sub-studies, each addressing a different aspect of the cardiovascular impact of COVID-19 and vaccination.
1. Cardiovascular outcomes of COVID-19 in hospitalised patients in Australia and the impact of vaccination.
This sub-study, published in the Medical Journal of Australia, reveals the incidence and predictors of cardiovascular complications in COVID-19 patients and the protective effect of vaccination.
2. Association between pre-existing cardiovascular disease, mortality and cardiovascular outcomes in hospitalised patients with COVID-19.
This sub-study, published in Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine, shows the increased risk of death and adverse events in COVID-19 patients with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions.
3. Temporal trends in cardiovascular presentations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This sub-study analyses the changes in the frequency and severity of cardiovascular presentations during the pandemic, which can have implications for healthcare planning and resource allocation. It is currently under review with a journal and was presented as an abstract/poster at the 2024 CSANZ ASM.
4. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on provision of interventional cardiology and cardiac surgery services in Australia.
This sub-study, published in the Internal Medicine Journal, examines the challenges and adaptations in the delivery of cardiac procedures during the pandemic, highlighting the need for flexibility and innovation in healthcare delivery.
5. Machine-learning based risk prediction of mortality, intubation and adverse cardiovascular events in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in Australia.
This sub-study, presented at the 2024 CSANZ ASM, utilises machine learning to create a risk prediction model that can assist healthcare providers in making informed, timely decisions for COVID-19 patients.
Webinar with Dr Sritharan
Watch our “Tea with the Experts Webinar” where we talk to Dr Sritharan about the power of artificial intelligence (AI) and predictive modelling to optimise patient care and improve clinical decision-making in cardiovascular medicine.
Awards
Dr Sritharan was awarded the ‘NSW/ACT RACP Trainee Research Award for Excellence’ for his machine-learning research on the AUS-COVID score. He’ll be representing NSW/ACT at the National RACP Trainee Research Awards Symposium in 2025.
He was also awarded the Royal North Shore Hospital Scientific Staff Council’s ‘2024 Outstanding Higher Degree Research Award’.
Congratulations, Hari!
“I am deeply grateful for your generous support, which enables me to conduct research at the intersection of cardiology and COVID-19. Your contributions are making a profound difference in the ability to understand, predict, and improve cardiovascular outcomes in this challenging condition. Together, we are paving the way for more informed healthcare decisions and better patient care.”