Global Evaluation of Echocardiography in Patients with COVID-19

Authors: Dweck, Marc R. ;

Bularga, Anda;

Hahn, Rebecca T;

Bing, Rong;

Lee, Ken;

Chapman, Andrew R.;

White, Audrey;

Di Salvo, Giovanni;

Sade, Leyla Elif;

Pearce, Keith;

Newby, David E.;

Popescu, Bogdan A;

Donal, Erwan;

Cosyns, Bernard;

Edvardsen, Thor;

Mills, Nicholas L. ;

Haugaa, Kristina

Source: European Heart Journal - Cardiovascular Imaging

Full text

: https://doi.org/10.1093/ehjci/jeaa178

Abstract

Aims: To describe the cardiac abnormalities in patients with COVID-19 and identify the characteristics of patients who would benefit most from echocardiography.

Methods and results:In a prospective international survey, we captured echocardiography findings in patients with presumed or confirmed COVID-19 between 3 and 20 April 2020. Patient characteristics, indications, findings, and impact of echocardiography on management were recorded. Multivariable logistic regression identified predictors of echocardiographic abnormalities. A total of 1216 patients [62 (52–71) years, 70% male] from 69 countries across six continents were included. Overall, 667 (55%) patients had an abnormal echocardiogram. Left and right ventricular abnormalities were reported in 479 (39%) and 397 (33%) patients, respectively, with evidence of new myocardial infarction in 36 (3%), myocarditis in 35 (3%), and takotsubo cardiomyopathy in 19 (2%). Severe cardiac disease (severe ventricular dysfunction or tamponade) was observed in 182 (15%) patients. In those without pre-existing cardiac disease (n = 901), the echocardiogram was abnormal in 46%, and 13% had severe disease. Independent predictors of left and right ventricular abnormalities were distinct, including elevated natriuretic peptides [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 2.96, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.75–5.05) and cardiac troponin (OR 1.69, 95% CI 1.13–2.53) for the former, and severity of COVID-19 symptoms (OR 3.19, 95% CI 1.73–6.10) for the latter. Echocardiography changed management in 33% of patients.

Conclusion:In this global survey, cardiac abnormalities were observed in half of all COVID-19 patients undergoing echocardiography. Abnormalities were often unheralded or severe, and imaging changed management in one-third of patients.

Rights

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted reuse, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Cite as

Dweck, M., Bularga, A., Hahn, R., Bing, R., Lee, K., Chapman, A., White, A., Di Salvo, G., Sade, L., Pearce, K., Newby, D., Popescu, B., Donal, E., Cosyns, B., Edvardsen, T., Mills, N. & Haugaa, K. 2020, 'Global Evaluation of Echocardiography in Patients with COVID-19', European Heart Journal - Cardiovascular Imaging, 21(9), pp. 949-958. https://doi.org/10.1093/ehjci/jeaa178

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ehjci/jeaa178

Repository URI: https://www.research.ed.ac.uk/portal/en/publications/global-evaluation-of-echocardiography-in-patients-with-covid19(cddff368-6cb6-450b-a7ea-b827eb145b52).html