Cardiac Dysfunction and Arrhythmias 3 Months After Hospitalization for COVID-19
Charlotte B Ingul1,2, Jostein Grimsmo2, Albulena Mecinaj3
1Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging Norwegian University of Science and Technology Trondheim Norway.
Journal of the American Heart Association
|January 20, 2022
Summary
Post-COVID-19 patients show impaired right ventricular function and increased diastolic dysfunction 3 months after discharge. Ventricular arrhythmias are common, but their clinical significance requires further investigation.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pulmonology
Background:
- Cardiac dysfunction is a known complication of COVID-19, but data on arrhythmic burden is limited.
- Understanding long-term cardiac effects is crucial for patient management post-COVID-19.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess cardiac function and arrhythmic burden in patients 3-4 months after COVID-19 hospitalization.
- To compare cardiac parameters between COVID-19 survivors and matched controls.
Main Methods:
- Combined multicenter prospective cohort and cross-sectional case-control study.
- Echocardiography and 24-hour ECG were used to evaluate cardiac function and arrhythmias.
- 204 COVID-19 patients were compared with 204 matched controls.
Main Results:
- COVID-19 patients exhibited worse right ventricle function (RV free wall longitudinal strain, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion) and lower cardiac index compared to controls.
- Diastolic dysfunction was twice as common in COVID-19 survivors (30% vs 15%).
- Arrhythmias, including premature ventricular contractions and nonsustained ventricular tachycardia, were found in 27% of patients.
Conclusions:
- Mild right ventricular impairment and increased diastolic dysfunction persist 3 months post-COVID-19 hospitalization.
- Cardiac function was not significantly associated with intensive care, dyspnea, or fatigue.
- The prevalence of ventricular arrhythmias warrants further study to determine clinical significance.
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