Arq Bras Cardiol: Imagem cardiovasc 2021; 34(4): eabc256
Transthoracic Echocardiography Findings of Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19: Results from the Brazilian Echocardiography Registry During the COVID-19 Pandemic (ECOVID)
DOI: 10.47593/2675-312X/20213404eabc256
Abstract
Background
Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) may play a crucial role in the evaluation of cardiac manifestations of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Objective
We aimed to report the prevalence of the main echocardiographic abnormalities of hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
Methods
We performed a prospective multicenter observational study in patients with COVID-19 who underwent TTE during hospitalization. Patients with pre-existing heart failure, coronary artery disease, or atrial fibrillation were categorized as having previous cardiovascular disease (CVD). Clinical and echocardiographic data about cardiac structure and function were collected.
Results
We evaluated 310 patients with COVID-19 (mean age, 62±16 years; 61% men; 53% with arterial hypertension; 33% with diabetes; and 23% with previous CVD). Overall, 65% of the patients required intensive care unit support. The most prevalent echocardiographic abnormalities were LV hypertrophy (29%), pulmonary hypertension (25%), left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction (16.5%), right ventricular (RV) systolic dysfunction (15.9%), grade II/III LV diastolic dysfunction (11%), and LV regional wall motion abnormality (11%). Pericardial effusion was uncommon (7% of cases). LV hypertrophy (25% vs. 45%, p=0.001), LV systolic dysfunction (11% vs. 36%, p<0.001), regional wall motion abnormalities (6% vs. 29%, p<0.001), grade II/III LV diastolic dysfunction (9% vs. 19%, p=0.03), and pulmonary hypertension (22% vs. 36%, p=0.019) were less common in patients without previous CVD. RV systolic dysfunction occurred at similar frequencies in patients with versus without previous CVD (13% vs. 25%, p=0.07).
Conclusions
Among patients hospitalized with COVID-19, abnormal echocardiographic findings were common, but less so among those without previous CVD. RV systolic dysfunction appeared to affect similar proportions of patients with versus without previous CVD.
Keywords: Cardiac function; Cardiovascular disease; COVID-19; Echocardiography; SARS-CoV-2
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