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Structural and functional changes of the myocardium after the new coronavirus infection COVID-19 in people with degenerative changes of the aortic valve

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Degenerative changes of the aortic valve (DCAV) are the most common valve pathology among the elderly, which has a significant impact on their well-being and prognosis. DCAV can lead to the formation of heart defects, cardiac arrhythmias and heart failure. At the same time, myocardial dysfunction in people with DCAV after COVID-19 remains virtually unexplored. Taking into account the prevalence of postcovoid syndrome, it is relevant to assess the structural and functional changes of the myocardium after a new coronavirus infection of varying severity in patients with DCAV. AIM: Perform an echocardiographic analysis of structural and functional changes in the myocardium in individuals with DCAV during the first 6 months after COVID-19 of varying severity. METHODS: Thirty patients with mild to moderate degenerative changes of the aortic valve were examined during the first 6 months after the new coronavirus infection COVID-19, aged 66 to 82 years. The patients were divided into two groups depending on the severity of the new coronavirus infection: 20 patients with mild COVID-19 and 10 patients with severe COVID-19 (with viral pneumonia according to computed tomography of the chest organs with 50-70% lung damage). The control group consisted of 22 patients with mild to moderate degenerative aortic valve changes who had not tolerated COVID-19 for 6 months prior to the study. RESULTS: The echocardiography detected mild to moderate degenerative changes in the aortic valve in the form of thickening, fibrosis and calcification of the valves in all subjects. In 3 people, these changes were on the background of a bicuspid aortic valve. Global longitudinal strain of the left ventricle (GLS LV) in individuals with DCAV after COVID-19 was lower than in the control group, with normal values of the ejection fraction. Moreover, a more pronounced decrease in GLS LV was observed in patients after a new severe coronavirus infection. When analyzing the echocardiographic parameters of the right chambers of the heart in people with DCAV after COVID-19, a decrease in indicators characterizing the contractile function of the right ventricle (TAPSE, S’) was noted, which is more pronounced after the severe course of the new coronavirus infection. In addition, this group showed a significant increase in estimated pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP), which may indicate the presence of pulmonary hypertension in these patients 6 months after COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS: The data from our study show that it is advisable to continue dynamic clinical and echocardiographic monitoring of patients who have recovered from COVID-19, regardless of the severity of the disease, due to the findings during echocardiographic analysis, such as a decrease in global longitudinal deformation of the left ventricle (LV) and an increase in pulmonary artery pressure (PAP).

Source: HERALD of North-Western State Medical University named after I I Mechnikov

DOI: 10.17816/mechnikov677014

Authors: Viktoriya V. Sklyarova, Viktor S. Nikiforov, Giorgi Dularidze, Vladimir K. Noginov

Institutions: North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov, St. Petersburg State Health Care Foundation "Mariinsky City Hospital"

Language: English

Topic: Cardiac Valve Diseases and Treatments

Subfield: Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W7204460199

FWCI:

Cites: 24

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Related to: 10