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Persistent Endothelial Dysfunction in Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome: A Case-Control Study
Pasquale Ambrosino1, Ilenia Calcaterra2, Antonio Molino3
1Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
Biomedicines
|August 27, 2021
Summary
Convalescent COVID-19 patients exhibit persistent endothelial dysfunction, indicated by reduced flow-mediated dilation (FMD). This dysfunction is more pronounced in males and correlates with pulmonary impairment severity.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Research
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Endothelial dysfunction is a key factor in COVID-19 pathogenesis and complications.
- Assessing endothelial function in COVID-19 survivors is crucial for understanding long-term effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate endothelium-dependent flow-mediated dilation (FMD) in patients recovering from COVID-19.
- To compare FMD in convalescent COVID-19 patients with matched controls.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study design was employed.
- 133 convalescent COVID-19 patients and 133 matched controls were included.
- Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) was measured and compared between groups.
Main Results:
- Convalescent COVID-19 patients showed significantly lower FMD compared to controls (3.2% vs. 6.4%).
- A sex-specific difference was observed, with females having higher FMD than males among cases.
- FMD correlated positively with pulmonary function tests (FEV1, FVC, DLCO) and oxygen tension in COVID-19 survivors.
Conclusions:
- Post-acute COVID-19 syndrome is linked to persistent, sex-biased endothelial dysfunction.
- The degree of endothelial dysfunction correlates with the severity of pulmonary impairment post-COVID-19.
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