Evaluation the relationship of left ventricular global longitudinal strain and laboratory parameters in discharged patients with COVID-19: a follow-up study.

Derya Baykiz,Pelin Karaca Ozer,Tufan Tukek,Ekrem Bilal Karaayvaz,Elif Ayduk Govdeli,Alpay Medetalibeyoglu,Zehra Bugra,Berrin Umman,Yunus Catma,Atahan Cagatay

doi:10.1007/s10554-021-02228-w

Abstract

Background: The novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) disease has spread rapidly and posed a great threat to global public health. The laboratory parameters and clinical outcomes of the disease in discharged patients remain unknown. In this study, we aimed to investigate the laboratory and echocardiographic findings of patients with COVID-19 after discharge and the relation between left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LVGLS) and inflammatory parameters in discharged patients. Methods: A total of 75 patients recovering from COVID-19 as the study group were prospectively recruited from the COVID-19 outpatient clinic for their follow-up visits at a median 6 months after discharge. Patients were classified into groups according to pneumonia severity and impairment in LVGLS. Laboratory findings of patients both at admission and after discharge were evaluated and the relation with pneumonia severity at admission and LVGLS after discharge were analyzed. Results: Serum ferritin, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and prohormone B-type natriuretic peptide (pro-BNP) levels after discharge were significantly higher in the study group than the control group (n = 44). Ferritin was found to be related to pneumonia severity. Serum ferritin and LDH values after discharge were significantly higher in patients with impaired LVGLS than those with preserved. There was a significant correlation between LVGLS, serum ferritin and LDH values after discharge (r = −0.252, p = 0.012; r = −0.268, p = 0.005, respectively). Conclusions: Clinicians should pay close attention to the serum ferritin and LDH levels in discharged patients for predicting the severity of COVID-19 disease and early identification of subclinical left ventricular myocardial dysfunction.

Highlights

The new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which is the etiological agent of novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) disease caused a worldwide pandemic
A total of 75 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 via positive result of real time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for SARS-CoV-2 RNA between April 2020 and June 2020 were prospectively recruited to the study from our outpatient clinic
The study complies with the Declaration of Helsinki, and this single-center, prospective, observational study protocol was approved by the local Ethics Committee of Istanbul University (Decision no: 2020/09/1185)

Summary

Introduction

The new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which is the etiological agent of novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) disease caused a worldwide pandemic. Several inflammatory markers have been found to be related to disease severity and mortality in hospitalized patients These inflammatory markers such as procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), serum ferritin, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) have been observed to be significantly associated with the development of severe COVID-19 disease [4, 5]. We aimed to investigate the laboratory and echocardiographic findings of patients with COVID-19 after discharge and the relation between left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LVGLS) and inflammatory parameters in discharged patients. Serum ferritin and LDH values after discharge were significantly higher in patients with impaired LVGLS than those with preserved. Conclusions: Clinicians should pay close attention to the serum ferritin and LDH levels in discharged patients for predicting the severity of COVID-19 disease and early identification of subclinical left ventricular myocardial dysfunction

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