Comparison of cardiovascular and psychological profile of young military men after COVID-19 with and without pneumonia

Abstract

Aim. To compare the cardiovascular and psychological profile of young military population after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with/without pneumonia.Material and methods. We examined 26 military men under 30 years of age (22,3±3,7 years/21,0 [19,8; 24,3] years) with documented COVID 19 (3 months±2 weeks after two virus-negative polymerase chain reaction tests). The participants were divided into 2 groups: experimental group (n=16) — those with COVID-19 pneumonia; comparison group (n=10) — those without pneumonia. All subjects underwent a complex of clinical and diagnostic tests.Results. Military men with COVID-19 pneumonia were significantly older (23,0 [20,5; 28,5] years vs 19,5 [19,0; 20,0] years, p=0,001). They had a prolonged PQ interval (154,5 [140,0; 163,5] ms vs 137,0 [134,0; 144,0] ms; p=0,014). According to echocardiography, the following parameters were significantly larger in experimental group: anteroposterior right ventricular dimension (26,0 [24,5; 27,5] mm vs 23,5 [22,0; 25,0] mm, p=0,012), right atrium length (48,0 [46,0; 51,5] mm and 45,5 [44,0; 47,0] mm, p=0,047), tricuspid regurgitation peak gradient (18,0 [15,5; 22,0] mm vs 14,0 [12,0; 20,0] mm, p=0,047), pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) (30,3 [27,6; 34,0] mm Hg vs 23,0 [20,5; 30,5] mm Hg, p=0,038), mean pulmonary artery pressure (20,3 [18,9; 22,7] mm Hg vs 16,8 [14,5; 20,6] mm Hg, p=0,038). The estimated pulmonary vascular resistance was significantly higher in the study group (1,50 [1,2; 1,8] Wood units vs 1,17 [1,1; 1,2] Wood units, p<0,001). The groups did not differ significantly in terms of symptoms of stress (perceived stress scale score of 10) and anxiety and depression disorders (GAD7 and PHQ9 questionnaires), quality of life (SF-36 survey).Conclusion. In young military personnel, COVID-19 pneumonia in the long term after the disease is associated with longer PQ interval, older age and larger right heart sizes on echocardiography, as well as with a higher tricuspid regurgitation peak gradient, PASP, mean pulmonary artery pressure, and pulmonary vascular resistance. In this category of population, no association was found between the severity of COVID-19 and psychological status parameters.

Factors affecting the severity of COVID-19 and the development of complications

“…In the long term, patients recovered from the COVID-pneumonia can develop alterations in the right heart chambers. Echocardiography demonstrates an enlargement of the right heart chambers, an increased tricuspid regurgitation gradient, elevated systolic and mean pulmonary artery pressures, and pulmonary vascular resistance [109]. Additionally, the electrocardiogram can show a prolonged PQ interval, reflecting the time taken for the electrical impulse to travel from the sinoatrial node to the ventricles.…”