Journal
MEDICAL PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE
Volume 31, Issue 3, Pages 276-283Publisher
KARGER
DOI: 10.1159/000522626
Keywords
COVID-19; Arterial stiffness; Echocardiography; SARS-CoV-2
Categories
Funding
- Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University [THD-2021-3621]
- Scientific Research Coordination Unit
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This study found that SARS-CoV-2 may cause impaired aortic elasticity parameters in COVID-19 survivors, which is associated with impaired arterial wall function.
Objective: While severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) primarily affects lung tissue, it may cause direct or indirect damage to the cardiovascular system, and permanent damage may occur. Arterial stiffness is an early indicator of cardiovascular disease risk. The aim of our study was to establish the potential effects of SARS-CoV-2 on the vascular system evaluated by transthoracic echocardiographic examination. Subjects and Methods: This study compared arterial stiffness between the survivors of COVID-19 and those without a history of COVID-19 infection. The difference in aortic diameter was examined using echocardiography. Results: The study included 50 patients who survived COVID-19 in the last 3-6 months and 50 age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers. In surviving COVID-19 patients, aortic diastolic diameter in cm ([3.1 +/- 0.2] vs. [2.9 +/- 0.1], p < 0.001), pulse pressure (PP) ([43.02 +/- 14.05] vs. [35.74 +/- 9.86], p = 0.004), aortic distensibility ([5.61 +/- 3.57] vs. [8.31 +/- 3.82], p < 0.001), aortic strain ([10.56 +/- 4.91] vs. [13.88 +/- 5.86], p = 0.003), PP/stroke volume index ([1.25 +/- 0.47] vs. [0.98 +/- 0.28], p = 0.001), and aortic stiffness index ([2.82 +/- 0.47] vs. [2.46 +/- 0.45], p < 0.001) were statistically significant compared to the control group. Conclusion: SARS-CoV-2 may cause reduced or impaired aortic elasticity parameters linked to impaired arterial wall function in COVID-19 survivors compared with controls.
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