Absence of cardiac impairment in patients after SARS-CoV-2 infection: a long-term follow-up study.

Publication date: Nov 14, 2024

Concerns exist that long-term cardiac alterations occur after SARS-CoV-2 infection, particularly in patients who were hospitalized in the acute phase or who remain symptomatic. This study investigates potential long-term functional and morphological alterations after SARS-CoV-2 infection. The authors of this study investigated patients after SARS-CoV-2 infection by using a mobile 1. 5-T clinical magnetic resonance scanner for cardiac alterations. Cardiac function and dimensions were assessed using a highly efficient cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) protocol, which included cine sequences, global longitudinal and circumferential strain assessed by fast-Strain-ENCoded imaging (fSENC), and T1 and T2 mapping. We assessed symptoms through a questionnaire. Patients were compared with a control group matched for age, gender, body mass index, and body surface area. Median follow-up time was 395 (192-408) days. The final population included 183 participants (age 48. 4+/-14. 3 years, 48. 1% male). During the acute phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection, 27 patients were hospital-admitted. 42 patients reported persistent symptoms (shortness of breath, chest pain, palpitations, or leg edema), and 63 reported impaired exercise tolerance. Left ventricular functional and morphological parameters were within the normal range. T1- and T2-relaxation times were also within the normal range, indicating that the presence of myocardial edema or fibrosis were unlikely. Persistently symptomatic patients showed a slightly reduced indexed LV-SV. Functional parameters remained normal in patients who were hospitalized for SARS-CoV-2, persistently symptomatic, or with ongoing impaired exercise tolerance. Irrespective of ongoing symptoms or severity of prior illness, patients who have recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection, demonstrate normal functional and morphological cardiac parameters. Long-term cardiac changes due to SARS-CoV-2 infection appear to be rare.

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Concepts Keywords
Cardiovasc Cardiac Impairment
Clinical CMR
Efficient COVID
Global fSENC
Years Persistent Symptom
SARS-CoV-2

Semantics

Type Source Name
disease MESH SARS-CoV-2 infection
pathway REACTOME SARS-CoV-2 Infection
disease MESH shortness of breath
disease MESH chest pain
disease MESH edema
disease MESH fibrosis
disease IDO symptom

Original Article

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