Most patients who had COVID-19 are still symptomatic after many months post infection, but the long-term outcomes are not yet well defined. The aim of our prospective/retrospective study was to define the cardiac sequelae of COVID-19 infection. This monocentric cohort study included 160 consecutive patients who had been discharged from the ward or from the outpatient clinic after a diagnosis of COVID-19 and subsequently referred for a follow-up visit. Clinical features’ data about the acute phase along with information about the follow-up visit, including ECG and Echocardiographic parameters, were recorded. At an average follow-up of 5 months, echocardiography showed morpho-functional characteristics of both right (RV) and left (LV) ventricles, such as RV dilation, increased pressure in the pulmonary circulation, and bi-ventricular systolic–diastolic dysfunction. When examined using multivariate analysis, independent of age, sex, and co-morbidities, RV and LV changes were significantly associated with chest High-Resolution computed tomography score and hemodynamic Instability (HI), and with C-reactive protein, respectively. Our results suggest that COVID-19 may impact RV and LV differently. Notably, the extent of the pneumonia and HI may affect RV, whereas the inflammatory status may influence LV. A long-term follow-up is warranted to refine and customize the most appropriate therapeutic strategies.

BACKGROUND: It was recently hypothesized the existence of "cardiac-skeletal muscle axis." However, the relationship between skeletal muscle mass (SMM) and left ventricular mass (LVM) has never been investigated in the specific group of older individuals with low skeletal mass and physical performance. We tested this hypothesis in the SPRINT-T (Sarcopenia and Physical Frailty IN older people: multicomponenT Treatment strategies Trial) population using LVM as independent variable and SMM as dependent variable. METHODS: SMM was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan and expressed as appendicular lean mass (ALM), and LVM was estimated through echocardiography. Low ALM was defined according to Foundation for the National Institutes of Health Sarcopenia Project criteria, and Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) was used to assess physical performance. RESULTS:The population consisted of 100 persons (33 men and 67 women), aged 70 years or older (mean age = 79 AE 5 years) with low ALM and SPPB ranged between 3 and 9, suggestive of physical frailty. Charlson Comorbidity Index median score was 0. Mean value of LVM was 193 AE 67 g, indexed LVM/body surface area (LVM/BSA) was 112 AE 33 g/m 2 , and cardiac output (CO) was 65 AE 19 L/min.

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Aims Most patients who had COVID-19 are still symptomatic after many months post infection, but the long-term outcomes are not yet well-defined. The aim of our prospective/retrospective study was to define the cardiac sequelae of COVID-19 infection. Methods and results This monocentric cohort study included 160 consecutive patients (64 females, 60 + 12 years) who had been discharged from the ward or from the outpatient clinic after a diagnosis of COVID-19 and subsequently referred for a follow-up visit. Clinical features as well as lab and instrumental data about the acute phase of the disease, such as haemodynamic instability (HI), cardiac biomarkers, d-dimer, C-reactive protein (CRP), high resolution CT (HRCT) score along with information about the follow-up visit, including ECG and Conventional and Doppler Tissue Echocardiographic (DTE) parameters, were recorded. The median follow-up time after symptom onset was 5 months. At follow-up visit, the majority of the patients reported dyspnoea and asthenia. Moreover, echocardiography showed morpho-functional changes of both right (RV) and left (LV) ventricles, such as RV dilation, increased pressure in the pulmonary circulation, and by-ventricular systolic–diastolic dysfunction. When examined using multivariate analysis, independent of age, sex, and co-morbidities, RV and LV changes were significantly associated (P < 0.05) with HRCT score and HI and with CRP, respectively. Conclusions Our results suggest that COVID-19 may impact RV and LV differently. Notably, the extent of the pneumonia and HI may affect RV, whereas the inflammatory status may influence LV. A long-term follow-up is warranted to refine and customize the most appropriate therapeutic strategies.