Effect of arterial hypertension in cardiopulmonary status and right ventricle function after hospitalization for Sars-Cov-2

Abstract

Abstract Introduction There is little data concerning the impact of SARS-Cov-2 infection on the cardiopulmonary status and right ventricle (RV) function of patients with arterial hypertension (HTN). Purpose The purpose of our study was to investigate whether hospitalization for COVID19 affects the functional status of hypertensive patients, using cardiopulmonary test and echocardiographic parameters, 3 months after the first day of infection. Methods All subjects underwent cardiorespiratory exercise using Bruce or modified Bruce protocol where all cardiorespiratory parameters were evaluated. Echocardiographic parameters including right ventricle longitudinal strain were analyzed using an offline program. Subjects with history of HTN were divided into two groups according to hospitalization for Covid-19 infection. Group I included 34 subjects who were hospitalized for Sars-Cov-2 infection and Group II included 28 subjects without need for hospitalization. Results Out of total population of 198 patients with COVID19 infection, sixty-two subjects were hypertensives (mean age: 61±10 years, 58.1 % males, history of coronary artery disease: 16.1%) who were evaluated 3 months after the symptoms onset. Of demographic characteristics in hospitalized patients, only age (63±8 vs. 52±11 years, p<0.001) was significantly higher. When analyzing cardiopulmonary test parameters, oxygen consumption (ml/kg/min) both maximum (21±4 vs. 23.5±4, p:0.01) and during the 1st minute of recovery (15.5±2 vs. 21±25, p: 0.02), VO2_AT (17±4 vs. 27.5±32) and PETCO2 (39±4 vs. 38±19 mmHg, p:0.03) were impaired comparing to non-hospitalized subjects. Out of echocardiographic parameters, diameter of left atrium (mm), differed significantly between two groups (41±6 vs.38±5 p: 0.02). The absolute mean value of right ventricle strain (RVLS, (%): 13±8 vs. 23±3, p:0.04) was impaired to hypertensives despite the fact that left ventricle ejection fraction was similar between two groups probably due to small sample size. Using linear regression analysis adjusted for age, gender, hospitalization, and LVEF, hospitalization (p: 0.001) proved to be independent predictive factor for RVLS in hypertensive patients. Conclusion To conclude our study highlighted negative impact of hospitalization for Sars-Cov-2 infection in the capacity for exercise and in right ventricle functionality, implying the severity of disease as a negative independent predictive factor in hypertensive patients.