Clinical Significance of Myocardial Injury in Patients Hospitalized for COVID-19: A Prospective, Multicenter, Cohort Study.

Hunain Shiwani; Jessica Artico; James C Moon; Miroslawa Gorecka; Gerry P McCann; Giles Roditi; Andrew Morrow; Kenneth Mangion; Elena Lukaschuk; Mayooran Shanmuganathan; Christopher A Miller; Amedeo Chiribiri; Mohammed Alzahir; Sara Ramirez; Andrew Lin; Peter P Swoboda; Adam K McDiarmid; Robert Sykes; Trisha Singh; Chiara Bucciarelli-Ducci; Dana Dawson; Marianna Fontana; Charlotte Manisty; Thomas A Treibel; Eylem Levelt; Ranjit Arnold; Robin Young; Alex McConnachie; Stefan Neubauer; Stefan K Piechnik; Rhodri H Davies; Vanessa M Ferreira; Marc R Dweck; Colin Berry; John P Greenwood; ;
Abstract
Hospitalized COVID-19 patients with troponin elevation have a higher prevalence of cardiac abnormalities than control individuals. However, the progression and impact of myocardial injury on COVID-19 survivors remain unclear. This study sought to evaluate myocardial injury in COVID-19 survivors with troponin elevation with baseline and follow-up imaging and to assess medium-term outcomes. This was a prospective, longitudinal cohort study in 25 United Kingdom centers (June 2020 to March 2021). Hospitalized COVID-19 patients with myocardial injury underwent cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) scans within 28 days and 6 months postdischarge. Outcomes were tracked for 12 months, with quality of life surveys (EuroQol-5 Dimension and 36-Item Short Form surveys) taken at discharge and 6 months. Of 342 participants (median age: 61.3 years; 71.1% male) with baseline CMR, 338 had a 12-month follow-up, 235 had a 6-month CMR, and 215 has baseline and follow-up quality of life surveys. Of 338 participants, within 12 months, 1.2% died; 1.8% had new myocardial infarction, acute coronary syndrome, or coronary revascularization; 0.8% had new myopericarditis; and 3.3% had other cardiovascular events requiring hospitalization. At 6 months, there was a minor improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction (1.8% ± 1.0%; P < 0.001), stable right ventricular ejection fraction (0.4% ± 0.8%; P = 0.50), no change in myocardial scar pattern or volume (P = 0.26), and no imaging evidence of continued myocardial inflammation. All pericardial effusions (26 of 26) resolved, and most pneumonitis resolved (95 of 101). EuroQol-5 Dimension scores indicated an overall improvement in quality of life (P < 0.001). Myocardial injury in severe hospitalized COVID-19 survivors is nonprogressive. Medium-term outcomes show a low incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events and improved quality of life. (COVID-19 Effects on the Heart; ISRCTN58667920).
Journal JACC. CARDIOVASCULAR IMAGING
ISSN 1876-7591
Published 14 Aug 2024
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DOI 10.1016/j.jcmg.2024.06.008
Type Journal Article
Sponsorship