Long postcovid injury on left ventricle function

Abstract

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Post COVID19 condition occurs in individuals with a history of probable or confirmed SARS Cov2 infection, usually 3 months from the onset of COVID19 with symptoms that last for up to at least 2 months and cannot be explained by an alternative diagnosis. Common symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath, cognitive dysfunction, but also arterial hypertension and generally have an impact on everyday function. Symptoms may be new onset following initial recovery from an acute COVID 19 episode or persist from the initial illness. Aim COVID 19 pneumonia initiates new onset arterial hypertension (AH) and aggravates the structural and functional myocardium remodeling in the long term after hospitalization. Methods The study population /initially questioned 1500 patients for symptoms after acute COVID 19 pneumonia / included 220 patients without history of any disease, mean age of 45±12 years, male 145 (43±10 years) female 75 ( 52± 14 years).We used Speckle tracking echocardiography to analyze the global longitudinal strain (GLS). GLS was extracted by 3, 4 and 2 chamber apical view images on 70 fr/s for left ventricle ( LV ) and right ventricle( RV ).CMR with LGE was performed at 3rd (3mFU) and 12th months (12mFU) also to confirm our resulst. AMBP analysis, MAP and HR were performed at baseline /30–40 days after acute infection/ 3rd and 12th months follow up. Results From initial population /1500 pts/ self-reported symptoms at 12mFU are 1265 ( 84.6 % ) and 235 (15.4 % ) are symptom free at 12mFU. AH presence at 3mFU in 143( 65% of patients )up to 161 patients (73% at 12mFU). Symptoms of heart failure with preserved EF were found at 3mFU in 91 pts (41%) and in 99 pts (45%) at 12mFU Despite normal EF, GLS / minus 18.5 %, p<0.01) and segmental LS in all apical and mid anteroseptal, inferoseptal and basal anteroseptal and inferoseptal levels ( minus 16% to minus 18%, p <0.01) and RV ( 22.3% to 24%) at 12mFU shown diminished and still preserved values, even in 3 level layers. Performed CMR confirmed injured segments. Conlusions New onset AH is one of major symptoms after COVID 19 and remains at 12mFU. Despite of satisfactory improvement of conventional parameters for LV and RV function, GLS indicate worsening of the LV systolic function. In pts with COVID-19 pneumonia echocardiography showed predominantly decrease of the load on the right heart at 3mFU. LV function showed slightly improvement at 12mFU.