Acute myocarditis in COVID19 patients. Clinical features, severity and outcomes. Results from Spanish multicenter registry Car-COVID19

Abstract

Funding AcknowledgementsType of funding sources: Foundation. Main funding source(s): Fundacion del CorazonIntroductionCOVID19 has emerged as a new disease, spreading around the world, leading to a complete lockdown. It is known that other infectious diseases can affect the heart inducing myocarditis. As a new entity, it was unknown if SARS-COV2 could provoke that cardiovascular manifestation. This national registry was created to describe COVID19 cardiac affection and its severity.Methods and resultsA multicenter registry was conducted, including 28 centers in Spain. Patients with COVID19 diagnosis presenting an acute cardiovascular event between March 1st and May 30th were included. Eighty-two patients were included. Of them, 9 (14,1%, excluding missing data) presented with acute myocarditis; the rest were diagnosed of acute myocardial infarction or stress cardiomyopathy. Baseline characteristics of these patients are summarised in Table 1. The 83,3% of patients with myocarditis presented with heart failure and 25% simulating an acute coronary syndrome.According to severity, 5 patients (62,5%) were admitted in the Intensive Care Unit, requiring orotracheal intubation 4 patients (57,1%). Left ventricle was affected in 66,7% of patients, whereas the remaining 33,3% presented biventricular failure. Mean left ventricle ejection fraction was 46% [30,0%-52%]. One patient developed refractory cardiogenic shock requiring implantation of both intra-aortic balloon pump and VA- ECMO. Three patients died during hospitalization.Cardiac magnetic resonance was conducted in 2 patients (28,6%), showing oedema and subepicardial enhacement in postero-lateral segments. Cardiac biopsy was performed in one patient showing significant lymphoid infiltration and intersticial oedema.ConclusionsPatients with COVID 19 who develop acute myocarditis usually present with heart failure secondary to ventricular failure. This entity has a bad prognosis with high in-hospital mortality rate. Table 1. Baseline characteristics.n (%)Age65,0[47,0-77,0]Sex (female)3 (42,9%)Hypertension3 (42,9%)Dyslipidemia3 (42,9%)Diabetes mellitus2 (28,6%)Chronic coronary disease1 (14,3%)Previous stroke1 (14,3%)Cancer1 (14,3%)