Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study on Cardiovascular Involvement >60 Days Post COVID-19 Recovery

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Radiology

Background:

• Assesses cardiac manifestations in COVID-19 survivors at least 60 days post-recovery.
• Utilizes cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging with native T1, native T2, and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) parameters.
• Investigates potential cardiac pathologies in individuals recovered from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the incidence and characteristics of cardiac manifestations in long COVID using CMR.
• To evaluate long-term cardiovascular effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Main Methods:

• Prospective observational study involving 54 COVID-19 recovered patients and 50 healthy controls.
• CMR imaging performed using a 3 T scanner.
• Assessment of pathologies via native T1/T2 mapping and LGE imaging; data analyzed with SPSS version 23.

Main Results:

• Only 1 patient (1.85%) showed abnormalities (midmyocardial LGE, raised T1/T2 values).
• No significant differences in native T1/T2 values or LGE between recovered patients and controls.
• Mild concentric hypertrophy in six patients deemed incidental; no elevated troponin T levels observed.

Conclusions:

• CMR imaging revealed no significant increase in cardiac manifestations attributable to long COVID.
• Suggests lower incidence of cardiovascular comorbidities in the Indian population compared to Western literature.
• Findings are reassuring regarding long-term cardiovascular involvement post-SARS-CoV-2 infection.