Abstract 14919: Speckle Tracking Based Echocardiographic Evaluation of COVID-19 Recovered Patients: A One Year Follow-Up Study
Shekhar Kunal, Md Faiz, Girish Palleda, Vishal Batra, ANKIT BANSAL, Mohit Gupta- Physiology (medical)
- Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
Introduction: The occurrence of myocardial injury during acute COVID-19 is well known however, its persistence and impact over a longer period of time is unclear.
Hypothesis: We assessed left ventricle (LV) global longitudinal strain (GLS) and right ventricle (RV) longitudinal and free wall strain using speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) in COVID-19 recovered patients.
Methods: A total of 189 subjects following recovery from COVID-19 infection and with a normal LV ejection fraction were enrolled. Routine blood investigations, inflammatory markers and detailed echocardiographic evaluation including STE were done for all. All these patients were followed-up for a period of one year with repeat echocardiography done at six months and one-year.
Results: Of the 189 subjects, 176 (93.1%) were symptomatic and categorized as mild [n = 91 (51.8%)], moderate [n = 65 (36.9%)] or severe [n = 20 (11.3%)] illness. Subclinical LV and right ventricle (RV) dysfunction were seen in 58 (30.7%) and 25 (13.2%) patients respectively. LVGLS was significantly lower in patients recovered from severe illness (mild: -21.4 ± 3.1 %; moderate: -18.8 ± 4.8%; severe: -16.3 ± 2.7%; P < 0.0001). RV longitudinal strain was significantly lower in patients recovered from severe COVID (mild: -22.9 ± 1.7, moderate: -21.8 ± 1.5, severe: -17.9 ± 1.6; P < 0.0001). There was a significant improvement in LVGLS (baseline: -19.1± 5.7, one-year: -19.9±4.6; P < 0.0001) and RVFWS (baseline: -23.5±6.3; one-year: -23.7 ± 5.8; P=0.03) however, RVLS improved though not significant (baseline: -21.4±5.7; one-year: -21.6 ± 5.2; P=.156) over a one-year follow-up period. Of the 58 subjects with baseline reduced LVGLS, over a one-year follow-up, 22 (11.6%) had persistently reduced LVGLS.
Conclusions: Subclinical LV dysfunction was seen in one third of recovered COVID-19 patients which improved over a one-year follow-up. A fraction of subjects had persistently reduced LVGLS even at one year which suggests need for closer follow-up among them to elucidate long-term cardiovascular outcomes.