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Evaluation of the cardio-ankle vascular index in COVID-19 patients
Ercan Aydın1, Aydın Kant2, Gürdal Yilmaz3
1Trabzon Kanuni Education and Research Hospital, Department of Cardiology - Trabzon, Turkey.
Insights
Cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) was significantly higher in COVID-19 patients, indicating increased arterial stiffness. Elevated CAVI may serve as a prognostic marker for disease severity in COVID-19.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Vascular Biology
Background:
- Arterial stiffness, measured by cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI), is linked to endothelial dysfunction and adverse cardiovascular outcomes.
- COVID-19 infection can exacerbate cardiovascular complications, highlighting the need for prognostic markers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between CAVI and COVID-19.
- To determine the prognostic significance of CAVI in COVID-19 patients.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 115 participants (65 COVID-19 patients, 50 controls) was conducted.
- CAVI and ankle-brachial pressure index were measured using the VaSera VS-1000 device.
- COVID-19 patients were subgrouped into mild and moderate/severe categories.
Main Results:
- CAVI values were significantly higher in COVID-19 patients compared to controls (right: 9.6±2.4 vs. 8.5±1.1, p=0.004; left: 9.4±2.7 vs. 8.5±1.2, p=0.01).
- Higher CAVI values were observed in moderate/severe COVID-19 cases compared to mild cases (right: 10.8±3.4 vs. 8.8±0.9, p=0.008; left: 10.7±3.6 vs. 8.5±1.5, p<0.001).
- Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed CAVI could distinguish moderate/severe from mild COVID-19 (AUC for right CAVI: 0.757, left CAVI: 0.782).
Conclusions:
- Increased CAVI in COVID-19 patients suggests heightened arterial stiffness.
- Elevated CAVI demonstrates prognostic significance for COVID-19 severity.
Objective:
This study aimed to investigate the relationship and prognostic significance of cardio-ankle vascular index, which is a measure of arterial stiffness that can lead to endothelial dysfunction and poor cardiovascular issues in COVID-19 patients, with COVID-19.
Methods:
The study included 115 patients, of which 65 patients in the case group with Real time reversetranscription-polymerasechainreaction test positive and diagnosed for COVID-19 and 50 volunteers in the control group. Patients with COVID-19 were classified as moderate/severe or mild COVID-19 in the subgroup analysis based on the severity of the disease. We investigated the relationship between cardio-ankle vascular index and COVID-19 by using the VaSera VS-1000 device to automatically measure each patient's cardio-ankle vascular index and ankle-brachial pressure index.
Results:
The mean age of participants included in the study was 65.7±10.7 years. Patients and volunteers were statistically similar in terms of age, gender, comorbidities, Charlson comorbidity index scores, and body mass index values (p>0.05). The right-cardio-ankle vascular index value was 9.6±2.4 in the case group and 8.5±1.1 in the control group (p=0.004). The left-cardio-ankle vascular index value was 9.4±2.7 in the case group and 8.5±1.2 in the control group (p=0.01). The right-cardio-ankle vascular index value was 10.8±3.4 in the moderate/severe disease group and 8.8±0.9 in the mild disease group (p=0.008). The left-cardio-ankle vascular index value was 10.7±3.6 in the moderate/severe disease group and 8.5±1.5 in the mild disease group (p<0.001). The right-cardio-ankle vascular index and left-cardio-ankle vascular index values were found to be significantly higher in COVID-19 patients in our study. When receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed to distinguish moderate/severe COVID-19 patients from mild patients, right-cardio-ankle vascular index was area under the curve 0.757 (0.630-0.884), and left-cardio-ankle vascular index was area under the curve 0.782 (0.661-0.902).
Conclusion:
The right-cardio-ankle vascular index and left-cardio-ankle vascular index values increased in COVID-19 patients in our study, and this was thought to be prognostically significant.
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