Serial echocardiographic evaluation of COVID-19 patients without prior history of structural heart disease: a 1-year follow-up CRACoV-HHS study

Abstract

BackgroundIt is a well-known fact that COVID-19 affects the cardiovascular system by exacerbating heart failure in patients with preexisting conditions. However, there is a poor insight into the cardiovascular involvement and sequelae in patients without preexisting conditions. The aim of the study is to analyse the influence of COVID-19 on cardiac performance in patients without prior history of structural heart disease. The study is part of the CRACoV project, which includes a prospective design and a 12-month follow-up period.Material and methodsThe study included 229 patients hospitalised with a diagnosis of COVID-19 (median age of 59 years, 81 were women). A standard clinical assessment and laboratory tests were performed in all participants. An extended echocardiographic image acquisition was performed at baseline and at a 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up. All analyses were performed off-line. A series of echocardiographic parameters was compared using repeated measures or Friedman analysis of variance.ResultsIn all subjects, the left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction at baseline was preserved [63.0%; Q1:Q3 (60.0–66.0)]. Elevated levels of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T were detected in 21.3% of the patients, and elevated NT-proBNP levels were detected in 55.8%. At the 1-year follow-up, no significant changes were observed in the LV diameter and volume (LV 48.0 ± 5.2 vs. 47.8 ± 4.8 mm, p = 0.08), while a significant improvement of the parameters in the biventricular strain was observed (LV −19.1 ± 3.3% vs. −19.7 ± 2.5%, p = 0.01, and right ventricular −19.9 ± 4.5% vs. −23.2 ± 4.9%, p = 0.002). In addition, a decrease in the LV wall thickness was also observed (interventricular septum 10.4 ± 1.6 vs. 9.7 ± 2.0 mm, p < 0.001; LV posterior wall 9.8 ± 1.4 vs. 9.1 ± 1.5 mm, p < 0.001).ConclusionsIn an acute phase of COVID-19, the elevation of cardiac biomarkers in patients with normal left ventricular ejection fraction is a frequent occurrence; however, it does not translate into clinically significant cardiac dysfunction after 1 year. The serial echocardiographic evaluations conducted in patients without preexisting structural heart disease demonstrate an overall trend towards an improved cardiac function and a reduced myocardial thickening at 1-year follow-up. This suggests that the acute cardiac consequences of COVID-19 are associated with systemic inflammation and haemodynamic stress in patients without preexisting conditions.

Trajectories of functional and structural myocardial parameters in post-COVID-19 syndrome—insights from mid-term follow-up by cardiovascular magnetic resonance

“…Given the limited data on CMR studies, one should also look into other imaging modalities. A current echocardiography study by Olszanecka et al reported FU data for 229 patients with mild to severe COVID-19 infection at 3, 6, and 12 months ( 26 ). They found a significant improvement in LV-SV as well as a reduction in LV mass accompanied by a lower systolic blood pressure at FU.…”

Clinical presentation of severe COVID‑19 with heart failure: A single‑center retrospective study

“…Acute pulmonary edema is the main clinical manifestation, which can progress to cardiogenic shock or cardiac arrest and can lead to mortality in severe cases ( 7 ). COVID-19 exacerbates HF in patients with preexisting conditions by affecting the cardiovascular system ( 8 ). A significant association has been found between COVID-19 and ischemic HF (IHF), contributing to the progression of the disease and increasing mortality in patients with IHF ( 9 ).…”