Progressive left and right heart dysfunction in coronavirus disease-19: Prospective echocardiographic evaluation

Cardiac dysfunction in coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) has been reported during acute phase but serial changes have not been well studied. To determine serial changes in type and severity of echocardiographic left and right heart functions we performed a prospective study.

Successive COVID-19 patients at discharge from the hospital from June to December 2020 were enrolled. Clinical details were obtained and echocardiography was performed using Philips IE33X-Matrix. Follow-up evaluation was performed after 3 months. In total, 1789 COVID-19 patients were evaluated. Baseline echocardiography was performed in 1000 eligible patients (men 611, women 389). Mean age was 50.2 ± 15 years, hypertension was in 44.0%, diabetes in 49.4%, and coronary disease in 10.8%. COVID-19 was mild in 47.0%, moderate in 39.5%, and severe in 13.5%. Baseline cardiac parameters were more impaired in severe vs. moderate or mild COVID-19. At 3 months, in 632 patients where baseline and follow-up data were available, decline was observed in select left [left ventricular internal diameter in diastole +0.9 ± 0.2 mm, left atrial volume +7.6 ± 0.1 mL/m2, mitral E/e' +4.8 ± 0.1, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) -3.7 ± 0.2%] and right [right ventricular internal diameter in diastole +2.1 ± 0.1 mm, right atrial internal dimension +1.6 ± 0.1 mm, tricuspid Vmax +1.0 ± 0.1 cm, and tricuspid annulus plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) -2.7 ± 0.2 mm] heart variables (P < 0.001). Compared to mild COVID-19, decline was significantly greater in moderate/severe disease, LVEF -1.1 ± 0.3 vs. -3.8 ± 0.3%; mitral E/e' +3.2 ± 0.1 vs. +4.8 ± 0.1, tricuspid Vmax +0.3 ± 0.1 vs. +1.0 ± 0.1 cm, and TAPSE -0.7 ± 0.2 vs. -2.7 ± 0.2 mm (P < 0.001).

This study shows impaired cardiac functions in severe and moderate COVID-19 compared to mild at hospital discharge and progressive decline in left and right heart functions at 3 months. Impairment is significantly greater in patients with moderate to severe disease.