Cardiovascular risk factors predict who should have echocardiographic
evaluation in long COVID
Abstract
Background: The need for echocardiograms among patients with
long COVID is debatable. Our aim was to evaluate the prevalence of left
ventricular (LV) dysfunction and identify predictors. Methods:
We conducted a cross-sectional study and included all consecutive
patients enrolled in our post-COVID clinic. We included patients who had
an echocardiogram and had no previous known heart disease. We defined LV
dysfunction as a low ejection fraction or grade II to grade III
diastolic dysfunction on an echocardiogram with evidence of elevated
filling pressures. We calculated the prevalence of heart disease and
predictors of heart disease using logistic regression. Results:
We included 217 post-COVID patients enrolled in the clinic. The
prevalence of LV dysfunction is 24%;95% CI 18-30. Predictors of heart
disease include older age and a previous history of hypertension and
diabetes or having a intermediate or high ASCVD score. Patients with low
ASCVD score did not have low ejection fraction on the screening
echocardiograms. Conclusion: Our study found a considerable
number of patients with LV dysfunction. Older patients with
cardiovascular risk factors are at risk of long COVID associated heart
disease.