Impairment of right ventricular longitudinal strain associated with severity of pneumonia in patients recovered from COVID-19

AbstractMyocardial injury caused by COVID-19 was reported in hospitalized patients previously. But the information about cardiac consequences of COVID-19 after recovery is limited. The aim of the study was comprehensive echocardiography assessment of right ventricular (RV) in patients recovered from COVID-19. This is a prospective, single-center study. After recovery from COVID-19, echocardiography was performed in consecutive 79 patients that attended follow-up visits from July 15 to November 30, 2020. According to the recovery at home vs hospital, patients were divided into two groups: home recovery (n  = 43) and hospital recovery (n = 36). Comparisons were made with age, sex and risk factor-matched control group (n = 41). In addition to conventional echocardiography parameters, RV global longitudinal strain (RV-GLS) and RV free wall strain (RV-FWS) were determined using 2D speckle-tra cking echocardiography (2D STE). Of the 79 patients recovered from COVID-19, 43 (55%) recovered at home, while 36 (45%) required hospitalization. The median follow-up duration was 133  ±  35 (87–184) days. In patients recovered from hospital, RV-GLS and RV-FWS were impaired compared to cont rol group (RV-GLS: −17.3  ±  6.8 vs. −20.4  ±  4.9, respectively [p = 0.042]; RV-FWS: −19.0  ±  8.2 vs. −23.4  ±  6.2, respectively [p = 0.022]). In subgroup analysis, RV-FWS was impaired in patients severe pneumonia (n = 11) compared to ...
Source: The International Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging - Category: Radiology Source Type: research