Work

Evaluation of myocardial work and exercise capacity in patients recovered from the severe form of COVID-19

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Background: The impact of COVID-19 goes beyond its acute form and can lead to the persistence of symptoms and the emergence of systemic disorders, defined as long-term COVID. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study that included patients over 18 years of age who recovered from the severe form of COVID-19 at least 60 days after their discharge. Patients and controls were enrolled to undergo transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) using a more sensitive tool, myocardial work, in combination with cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET). Results: (24.4 ± 5.4 vs. 33.4 ± 8.8 mL/kg/min; p < 0.001), heart rate (160 ± 14 vs. 176 ± 11 bpm; p < 0.001), ventilation (84.6 ± 22.6 vs. 104.9 ± 27.0 L/min; p < 0.001), OUES% (89 ± 16 vs. 102 ± 22 %; p = 0.002), T ½ (120.3 ± 32 vs. 97.6 ± 27 s; p = 0.002) and HRR at 2 min (-36 ± 11 vs. -43 ± 13 bpm; p = 0.010). Conclusion: Our findings revealed an increased wasted work, with lower myocardial efficiency, significantly reduced aerobic exercise capacity, and abnormal heart rate response during recovery, which may be related to previously described late symptoms. The reduction in functional capacity during physical exercise is partly associated with a decrease in resting myocardial work efficiency. These findings strongly indicate the need to determine whether these manifestations persist in the long term and their impact on cardiovascular health and quality of life in COVID-19 survivors.

Source: International Journal of Cardiology Cardiovascular Risk and Prevention

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcrp.2024.200324