Suspected myocardial injury in patients with COVID-19: Evidence from front-line clinical observation in Wuhan, China

Background: A novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) inWuhan has caused an outbreak and become amajor public health issue in China and great concern from international community. Myocarditis and myocardial injury were suspected and may even be considered as one of the leading causes for death of COVID-19 patients. Therefore, we focused on the condition of the heart, and sought to provide firsthand evidence for whethermyocarditis and myocardial injury were caused by COVID-19. Methods: Weenrolled patientswith confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 retrospectively and collected heart-related clinical data, mainly including cardiac imaging findings, laboratory results and clinical outcomes. Serial tests of cardiac markers were traced for the analysis of potential myocardial injury/myocarditis. Results: 112 COVID-19 patientswere enrolled in our study. Therewas evidence of myocardial injury in COVID-19 patients and 14 (12.5%) patients had presented abnormalities similar tomyocarditis. Most of patients had normal levels of troponin at admission, that in 42 (37.5%) patients increased during hospitalization, especially in those that died. Troponin levels were significantly increased in the week preceding the death. 15 (13.4%) patients have presented signs of pulmonary hypertension. Typical signs of myocarditiswere absent on echocardiography and electrocardiogram. Conclusions: The clinical evidence in our study suggested that myocardial injury is more likely related to systemic consequences rather than direct damage by the 2019 novel coronavirus. The elevation in cardiac markers was probably due to secondary and systemic consequences and can be considered as the warning sign for recent adverse clinical outcomes of the patients. (c) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.