Abstract
The COVID-19 infection, which is caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, has rapidly emerged as a global public health issue. Cardiac complications secondary to this infection are common and associated with mortality. This study aimed to evaluate whether subclinical myocardial dysfunction exists in non-hospitalized mildly symptomatic COVID-19 patients using left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LVGLS). In this cross-sectional, single-center study, data were collected from non-hospitalized mildly symptomatic COVID-19 patients between January 01 and February 01, 2021. Fifty (26 male, 24 female) COVID-19 patients and 50 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers were included in the study. Apical four-, three-, and two-chamber images were analyzed longitudinally by conventional methods and speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) for left ventricle functions. The mean age of the COVID-19 patients was 39.5 ± 8.96, and 52% of them were male. The most prevalent presenting symptoms were fever [in 34 (68%)], asthenia [in 30 (60%)], loss of appetite [in 21 (42%)], myalgia [in 20 (40%)], and cough [in 13 (26%)]. Plasma levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) were significantly higher in the COVID-19 patients than in the controls (10.84 ± 12.44 vs. 4.50 ± 2.81, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of standard echocardiography and Doppler parameters (p > 0.05). Left ventricular longitudinal strain and strain velocity parameters were significantly decreased in COVID-19 patients compared to healthy individuals. LV-GLS values (- 21.72 ± 3.85% vs. – 23.11 ± 4.16%; p = 0.003) were significantly lower in COVID-19 patients compared with the healthy controls. Mildly symptomatic COVID-19 patients also have subclinical myocardial dysfunction similar to hospitalized patients. STE has the potential for detecting subclinical LV systolic dysfunction, and can provide useful information regarding cardiac status in mildly symptomatic COVID-19 population.
Keywords: COVID-19; Global longitudinal strain; Speckle tracking echocardiography; Subclinical myocardial dysfunction.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, Global longitudinal strain, Speckle tracking echocardiography, Subclinical myocardial dysfunction., 【초록키워드】 Mortality, cross-sectional, Infection, C-reactive protein, hospitalized patients, cough, Novel coronavirus, COVID-19 infection, symptomatic, Fever, male, female, Control, age, group, information, COVID-19 patients, Plasma levels, COVID-19 patient, Myocardial dysfunction, myalgia, Cardiac complications, secondary to, C-reactive protein (CRP, presenting symptom, asthenia, Appetite, left ventricle, cardiac complication, no significant difference, global public health, healthy individuals, novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, healthy controls, single-center study, functions, loss of appetite, left, significantly lower, parameter, Doppler, controls, prevalent, LV systolic dysfunction, Apical, cardiac status, analyzed, collected, evaluate, caused, significantly, significantly higher, healthy volunteer, Plasma level, Subclinical, the healthy, ventricular, 【제목키워드】 Patient, Mild symptom,