Role of cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging in COVID-19 recovered patients: A short-term follow-up study.

OBJECTIVE: Cardiac involvement in recovered COVID-19 patients assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: Subjects recently recovered from COVID-19 and with an abnormal left ventricular global longitudinal strain were enrolled. Cardiac MRI in all the enrolled subjects was done at baseline (within 30-90 days following recovery from COVID-19) with a follow-up scan at 6 months in individuals with an abnormal baseline scan. Additionally, 20 age-and sex-matched individuals were enrolled as healthy controls (HCs). RESULTS: All the 30 enrolled subjects were symptomatic during active COVID-19 disease and were categorized as mild: 11 (36.7%), moderate: 6 (20%), and severe: 13 (43.3%). Of the 30 patients, 16 (53.3%) had abnormal CMR findings. Myocardial edema was reported in 12 (40%) patients while 10 (33.3%) had late gadolinium enhancement (LGE). No difference was observed in terms of conventional left ventricular (LV) parameters; however, COVID-19-recovered patients had significantly lower right ventricular (RV) ejection fraction, RV stroke volume, and RV cardiac index compared to HCs. Follow-up scan was abnormal in 4/16 (25%) with LGE persisting in three patients (who had severe COVID-19 [3/4;75%]). Subjects with severe COVID-19 had a greater frequency of LGE (53.8%) and myocardial edema (61.5%) as compared to mild and moderate cases. Myocardial T1 (1284 ± 43.8 ms vs. 1147.6 ± 68.4 ms; p < .0001) and T2 values (50.8 ± 16.7 ms vs. 42.6 ± 3.6 ms; p = .04) were significantly higher in post COVID-19 subjects compared to HCs. Similarly, T1 and T2 values of severe COVID-19 patients were significantly higher compared to mild and moderate cases. CONCLUSIONS: An abnormal CMR was seen in half of the recovered patients with persistent abnormality in one-fourth at 6 months. Our study suggests a need for closer follow-up among recovered subjects in order to evaluate for long-term cardiovascular sequelae. COVID-19 causes structural changes in the myocardium in a small segment of patients with partial spontaneous resolution.

Is ambulatory blood pressure measurement a new indicator for survival among advanced heart failure cases.

BACKGROUND: Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) in heart failure is not well defined. However, from the limited studies available, ABPM may be used to optimize heart failure therapy, and as a prognostic marker in this patient group. We analyzed the ABPM values with survival in advanced heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) patients who are on optimal guideline directed medical therapy (GDMT). METHODS AND RESULTS: Hundred patients of advanced HFrEF were followed up for one year. Baseline left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end diastolic diamension (LVEDD) and ABPM values were measured and they were analyzed with survival. Deceased patients (n=36) have lower ABPM values and are dippers as compared to living patients (n=64) [24hr systolic blood pressure (SBP24hr)=97.6±12.5mmHg, 24hr diastolic BP (DBP24hr)=64.6±10.2mmHg, decrement in systolic BP (dipSBP)=9.9±5.2mmHg and decrement in diastolic BP (dipDBP)=11.1±6.5mmHg Vs SBP24hr=109.4±16.9mmHg, DBP24hr=71.7±17mmHg, dipSBP=1.6±5.9mmHg and dipDBP=2.7±6.3mmHg] and they were statistically significant with p values<0.001, 0.025, <0.001, and <0.001 respectively. A logistic regression analysis was done to predict one year survival using age, sex, LVEF, LVEDD, SBP24hrs, DBP24hrs, dipSBP, dipDBP and dipMAP as independent predictors. When SBP24hrs is raised by one unit the chances of survival are 1.145 times more(Exp(B)=1.145). One unit dip in SBP and DBP will reduce the chances of survival by 0.697 times and 0.586 times respectively. CONCLUSION: In advanced HFrEF patients with Lower SBP & DBP and dippers have lesser survival compared to those with higher SBP & DBP and non-dippers.