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Minor Myocardial Scars in Association with Cardiopulmonary Function after COVID-19
Tarjei Øvrebotten1,2, Siri Heck3,4, Ingunn Skjørten5
1Division of Medicine, Department of Cardiology, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway, tarjeiovrebotten@gmail.com.
Cardiology
|May 26, 2023
Summary
Minor myocardial scars after COVID-19 do not significantly impact cardiopulmonary function. This study found no long-term cardiovascular consequences in patients with these small scars.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pulmonary Medicine
Background:
- Concerns exist regarding long-term cardiovascular consequences of myocardial scars detected by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging post-COVID-19.
- This study investigated cardiopulmonary functioning in patients with and without COVID-19-related myocardial scars.
Discussion:
- Cardiorespiratory fitness, arrhythmias, and cardiac structure/function were assessed approximately 6 months post-COVID-19 using CMR, cardiopulmonary exercise tests, ECG, and echocardiography.
- No significant differences in cardiorespiratory fitness or arrhythmias were observed between patients with and without myocardial scars.
- A trend towards greater left ventricular mass was noted in patients with scars, though cardiac structure and function remained largely similar.
Key Insights:
- Eighteen percent of patients with moderate-to-severe COVID-19 developed small myocardial scars detectable by CMR.
- Myocardial scar presence did not correlate with impaired cardiorespiratory fitness or arrhythmias.
- No significant longitudinal changes in cardiopulmonary function were associated with myocardial scars.
Outlook:
- Minor myocardial scars after COVID-19 appear to have limited clinical significance for cardiopulmonary function.
- Further research may explore the long-term implications of larger or different types of myocardial scarring.
- This study contributes to understanding the cardiovascular sequelae of COVID-19.
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