Journal
JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR DEVELOPMENT AND DISEASE
Volume 10, Issue 5, Pages -Publisher
MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/jcdd10050189
Keywords
sport; COVID-19; speckle-tracking echocardiography; myocardial dysfunction; exercise performance
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The relationship between symptoms and impaired left ventricular function during COVID-19 remains unclear. In this study, the global longitudinal strain (GLS) of athletes with a positive COVID-19 test (PCAt) was compared to healthy control athletes (CON). The results showed lower GLS and diastolic function in PCAt, indicating mild myocardial dysfunction after COVID-19. However, the clinical relevance of these changes is questionable and further research is needed.
Whether symptoms during COVID-19 contribute to impaired left ventricular (LV) function remains unclear. We determine LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) between athletes with a positive COVID-19 test (PCAt) and healthy control athletes (CON) and relate it to symptoms during COVID-19. GLS is determined in four-, two-, and three-chamber views and assessed offline by a blinded investigator in 88 PCAt (35% women) (training at least three times per week/>20 MET) and 52 CONs from the national or state squad (38% women) at a median of two months after COVID-19. The results show that the GLS is significantly lower (GLS 18.53 +/- 1.94% vs. 19.94 +/- 1.42%, p < 0.001) and diastolic function significantly reduces (E/A 1.54 +/- 0.52 vs. 1.66 +/- 0.43, p = 0.020; E/E' l5.74 +/- 1.74 vs. 5.22 +/- 1.36, rho = 0.024) in PCAt. There is no association between GLS and symptoms like resting or exertional dyspnea, palpitations, chest pain or increased resting heart rate. However, there is a trend toward a lower GLS in PCAt with subjectively perceived performance limitation (p = 0.054). A significantly lower GLS and diastolic function in PCAt compared with healthy peers may indicate mild myocardial dysfunction after COVID-19. However, the changes are within the normal range, so that clinical relevance is questionable. Further studies on the effect of lower GLS on performance parameters are necessary.
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