Cardiohemodynamic Changes and Cardiac Arrhythmias After Coronavirus Infection

Aim      To study changes in cardiohemodynamic alterations of the myocardium and heart rhythm disorders at 3 and 6 months following the coronavirus infection.

Material and methods   EchoCG, ECG Holter monitoring, and Doppler ultrasonography of hepatolienal blood vessels were performed for 77 patients (mean age, 35.9 years) at 3 and 6 months after coronavirus infection. The patients were divided into the following groups: group 1, with injury of the upper respiratory tract; group 2, with bilateral pneumonia (CТ1, 2), and group 3, with severe pneumonia (CТ3, 4). Statistical analysis was performed with a SPSS Statistics Version 25.0 software package.

Results At 6 months after the disease onset, the patients noted an improvement of their general condition. In patients with moderate pneumonia, early peak diastolic velocity (p=0.09), right ventricular isovolumic diastolic time (р=0.09), and pulmonary artery systolic pressure (р=0.005) where decreased, while tricuspid annular peak systolic velocity was, in contrast, increased (р=0.042). Both segmental systolic velocity of the LV mid-inferior segment (р=0.006) and the mitral annular Em / Am ratio were decreased. In patients with severe disease at 6 months, right atrial indexed volume was reduced (р=0.036), tricuspid annular Em / Am was decreased (р=0.046), portal and splenic vein flow velocities were decreased, and inferior vena cava diameter was reduced. Late diastolic transmitral flow velocity was increased (р=0.027), and LV basal inferolateral segmental systolic velocity was decreased (р=0.046). In all groups, the number of patients with heart rhythm disorders was decreased, and parasympathetic autonomic influences prevailed.

Conclusion      At 6 months after coronavirus infection, practically all patients noted improvement of their general condition; incidence rate of arrhythmia and cases of pericardial effusion were decreased; and autonomic nervous system activity recovered. In patients with moderate and severe disease, morpho-functional parameters of the right heart and the hepatolienal blood flow were normalized, however, occult disorders of LV diastolic function remained, and LV segmental systolic velocity was reduced.

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