In a low-risk population, sST2 does not associate with traditional cardiovascular risk factors or nonfatal cardiovascular events but is higher in African Americans and is associated with increased all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Further investigation is needed regarding the role of sST2 in risk prediction, particularly among African Americans.

Objective Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is a leukocyte-derived enzyme that appears to be directly involved in atherosclerosis development. We evaluated the association of circulating MPO with coronary and aortic atherosclerosis in a large, multiethnic population. Methods and Results Plasma levels of MPO were measured in 3294 subjects participating in the Dallas Heart Study, a probability-based population sample. Coronary artery calcification (CAC) was measured by EBCT, and abdominal aorta plaque prevalence (AP) and burden (APB), as well as abdominal aorta wall thickness (AWT) were determined by MRI. Associations between MPO and atherosclerosis phenotypes were assessed in multivariable analyses adjusting for traditional atherosclerosis risk factors. MPO levels in the 4th compared with 1st quartile independently associated with prevalent AP (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.08–1.84), APB (beta coefficient 0.23, p=0.02), and AWT (beta coefficient 0.04, p=0.03), but not with prevalent CAC (OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.61–1.17). MPO remained associated with aortic atherosclerosis phenotypes but not coronary calcification after adjustment for other inflammatory biomarkers. A significant interaction was observed between race/ethnicity, MPO and AP (pinteraction=0.038), such that MPO levels in the 4th vs 1st quartile associated with prevalent AP in African Americans, (OR 1.81, 95% CI 1.23–2.65) but not in White or Hispanic participants (OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.68–1.44). Conclusion Higher levels of MPO associated with aortic but not coronary atherosclerosis, with significant associations limited to African American participants. These findings suggest that MPO might be a novel risk factor contributing to racial disparities in peripheral vascular disease.

Background Cardiac injury is common in COVID‐19 patients and is associated with increased mortality. However, it remains unclear if reduced cardiac function is associated with cardiac injury, and additionally if mortality risk is increased among those with reduced cardiac function in COVID‐19 patients. Hypothesis The aim of this study was to assess cardiac function among COVID‐19 patients with and without biomarkers of cardiac injury and to determine the mortality risk associated with reduced cardiac function. Methods/Results This retrospective cohort study analyzed 143 consecutive COVID‐19 patients who had an echocardiogram during hospitalization between March 1, 2020 and May 5, 2020. The mean age was 67 ± 16 years. Cardiac troponin‐I was available in 131 patients and an increased value (>0.03 ng/dL) was found in 59 patients (45%). Reduced cardiac function, which included reduced left or right ventricular systolic function, was found in 40 patients (28%). Reduced cardiac function was found in 18% of patients without troponin‐I elevation, 42% with mild troponin increase (0.04‐5.00 ng/dL) and 67% with significant troponin increase (>5 ng/dL). Reduced cardiac function was also present in more than half of the patients on mechanical ventilation or those deceased. The in‐hospital mortality of this cohort was 28% (N = 40). Using logistic regression analysis, we found that reduced cardiac function was associated with increased mortality with adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of 2.65 (1.18 to 5.96). Conclusions Reduced cardiac function is highly prevalent among hospitalized COVID‐19 patients with biomarkers of myocardial injury and is independently associated with mortality.

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This case series describes clinical course of three COVID-19 patients who presented with major thromboembolic events. Patient 1 is a 57-year-old male with asymptomatic COVID-19 who presented with a large left ventricular thrombus. His hospital course was complicated with a stroke. Patient 2 is a 71-year-old male with mild COVID-19 who presented with an acute stroke. Patient 3 is a 47-year-old male with severe COVID-19 who presented with a large pulmonary embolism. He died of a recurrent massive pulmonary embolism. This case series demonstrates that thromboembolic event can be the presenting feature of COVID-19 and can occur in the patients with asymptomatic or mild COVID-19. Diffuse endothelial injury and hypercoagulability play a pivotal role in recurrent thromboembolic events despite the anticoagulation. Therapeutic anticoagulation may be considered for severe COVID-19 patients and patients with important comorbidities or pre-existing endothelial dysfunction.