Long-Term Coronary Microvascular and Cardiac Dysfunction After Severe COVID-19 Hospitalization

COVID-19 can lead to long-term cardiopulmonary symptoms and is associated with coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD). However, long-term data on CMD after severe COVID-19 are lacking.

To investigate long-term left ventricular function and the presence of CMD after severe COVID-19.

This case-control study was conducted among patients at a single center from the prospective Follow-Up of Patients With Severe COVID-19 (UppCov) study, with follow-up multiparametric perfusion cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) at 10 months after discharge from November 2020 to February 2021. Patients previously hospitalized due to severe COVID-19 (ventilatory support, oxygen flow ≥5 L/min, or both) with or without cardiac involvement (troponin t > 14 ng/L, pulmonary artery pressure >34 mm Hg, or both) were compared with historical sex- and age-matched volunteers without symptomatic ischemic heart disease. Standard contraindications to adenosine CMR were applied. Data were analyzed between March 2023 and March 2025.

Hospitalization due to severe COVID-19.

Comprehensive CMR included native T1, native T2, extracellular volume, adenosine stress and rest perfusion mapping, gadolinium enhancement, and cine imaging. Comorbidities, medications, symptoms at follow-up, and details regarding hospitalization were obtained from patient records.

The study included 37 patients with COVID-19 (mean age, 56 years [95% CI, 53 to 61 years]; 28 male [75.7%]) and 22 healthy volunteers (mean age, 51 years [95% CI, 45 to 57 years]; 12 male [54.4%]). Patients with COVID-19 compared with healthy patients demonstrated reduced mean stress perfusion (2.80 mL/min/g [95% CI, 2.53 to 3.07 mL/min/g] vs 3.43 mL/min/g [95% CI, 3.13 to 3.74 mL/min/g]; P = .003), impaired mean global longitudinal strain (-17% [95% CI, -18% to -16%] vs -19% [-20% to -18%]; P = .003), and impaired mean global circumferential strain (-16% [95% CI, -17% to -15%] vs -19% [-20% to -18%]; P = .001). There were no differences in stress perfusion or myocardial perfusion reserve in the COVID-19 group between patients with vs without cardiovascular risk factors or cardiac symptoms.

In this study, patients with COVID-19 exhibited long-term reduced stress perfusion indicating CMD, along with declined left ventricular function by global longitudinal strain and global circumferential strain. Lack of variation in stress perfusion between patients with and without cardiovascular risk factors may suggest CMD due to severe COVID-19, warranting further investigation to elucidate mechanisms and guide potential therapies.