COVID-19 and cardiovascular complications – the preliminary results of the LATE-COVID study, 2021, Lewek et al

ABSTRACT

Introduction:
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may affect many organs and may be responsible for numerous complications including cardiovascular problems.

Material and methods:
We analysed consecutive patients (n = 51) admitted to the cardiology department between 1st October 2020 and 31st January 2021 due to symptoms which might have reflected cardiovascular complications following COVID-19. We collected data concerning clinical characteristics, results of laboratory tests, echocardiography and 24-hour ambulatory ECG recording.

Results:
The post-COVID-19 complications appeared 1–4 months after disease recovery. Severe cardiovascular complications were observed in 27.5% of hospitalized patients. In comparison to those with mild complications, patients with severe complications had significantly higher prevalence of diabetes (36 vs. 8%; p = 0.01), decrease in ejection fraction (36% vs. 0%, p < 0.001), higher resting heart rate at admission (85 vs. 72 bpm; p < 0.001), and higher levels of C-reactive protein (p = 0.02) and troponin T (17.9 vs. 4.2 pg/ml; p = 0.01). Dyspnoea and exercise intolerance were also more frequent in patients with severe complications.

Conclusions:
Diabetes, elevated level of CRP and troponin, heart rate variability parameters and worsening of left ventricular ejection fraction are related to the severity of cardiovascular complications following COVID-19 infection.

Open access, https://www.archivesofmedicalscienc...ary-results-of-the-LATE-COVID,134211,0,2.html