Vol 29, No 1 (2022)
Research Letter
Published online: 2021-12-01

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Pulmonary arterial hypertension and right ventricular systolic dysfunction in COVID-19 survivors

Rosario Rossi12, Francesca Coppi12, Daniel Enrique Monopoli1, Fabio Alfredo Sgura1, Salvatore Arrotti1, Giuseppe Boriani1
Pubmed: 34897638
Cardiol J 2022;29(1):163-165.

Abstract

Not available

covid-19

Research Letter

Cardiology Journal 2022

Vol. 29, No. 1, 163–165

DOI: 10.5603/CJ.a2021.0159

Copyright © 2022 Via Medica

ISSN 1897–5593

eISSN 1898018X

Pulmonary arterial hypertension and right ventricular systolic dysfunction in COVID-19 survivors

Rosario Rossi12Francesca Coppi12Daniel Enrique Monopoli1Fabio Alfredo Sgura1Salvatore Arrotti1Giuseppe Boriani1
1Division of Cardiology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (UNIMORE), Modena, Italy
2Pulmonary Hypertension Program, Azienda Ospedaliera Policlinico di Modena, Modena, Italy

Address for correspondence: Rosario Rossi, Associate Professor of Cardiology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (UNIMORE), Policlinico di Modena, Via del Pozzo, 71, 41124 Modena, Italy, tel: 0039 059 4225630, fax: 0039 059 4223714, e-mail: rosario.rossi@unimore.it

Received: 16.07.2021 Accepted: 20.11.2021 Early publication date: 1.12.2021

This article is available in open access under Creative Common Attribution-Non-Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) license, allowing to download articles and share them with others as long as they credit the authors and the publisher, but without permission to change them in any way or use them commercially.

Although much has been published about the in-hospital prognosis of COVID-19 patients, much less attention has been paid to what happens to those who have been discharged alive from the hospital [1]. In the present study we investigated a group of patients initially admitted for acute respiratory failure due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related interstitial pneumonia and then, at a later time point, discharged from hospital. We noted that some of these patients presented a specific cluster of signs and symptoms: asthenia, fatigue, high heart rate (HR) at rest, and tachycardia disproportionate to physical exertion [2]. These patients find it difficult to resume their social and working life after discharge. We can say that these symptoms and signs fall within the generic definition of “post-COVID syndrome” [3], but we do not know the origin and causes of this clinical condition. We then performed a right heart catheterization (RHC) in all these patients, in order to evaluate the possible presence of cardiac and/or pulmonary vascular alterations.

The study group consisted of 25 consecutive patients, COVID-19 survivors, referred to our divisional outpatient clinic for the cluster of signs and symptoms described above. All patients were hospitalized between March 2020 and February 2021. In all these patients we performed a RHC and a 6-minute walking test (6MWT). The obtained results were compared with those of a control group, which comprised 25 gender- and age-matched patients, COVID-19 survived, but asymptomatic.

Patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) underwent an additional 6MWT and catheterization every 6 months of follow-up.

The present study was approved by the local Ethical Committee (protocol number: AOU 0012597).

Right heart catheterization was performed using a 7 F balloon-tipped (Swan-Ganz catheter), triple lumen thermodilution catheters. Right atrial pressure (RAP), mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP), and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) were recorded. Cardiac output (CO) was determined by thermodilution method. Cardiac index (CI = CO/body surface area), right ventricle stroke volume (RVSV = CO/HR), and pulmonary vascular resistance [PVR = (mPAP − PCWP)/CO] were calculated. Right ventriculography was performed in the 30° right anterior oblique view using a 6 F pig-tail catheter. Right ventricular (RV) end-diastolic diameter (EDD) and ejection fraction (EF) were calculated.

Continuous variables were expressed as mean ± ± standard deviation or median (range) values, and categorical data as percentages. All dichotomous variables were compared applying the c2 test; continuous variables using one-way analysis of variance. Changes from baseline to follow-up were assessed using analysis of variance for repeated measures. Bonferroni’s correction was utilized for multiple comparisons. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Our study population comprised 25 patients hospitalized for acute respiratory failure due to COVID-19 interstitial pneumonia, confirmed by chest computed tomography images.

The comparison between symptomatic patients and the control group is depicted in Table 1.

Table 1. Comparison between symptomatic (study group) and asymptomatic (control group) post-COVID-19 patients. Both groups consisted of patients who survived SARS-CoV-2 infection, but only patients included in the study group suffered from the specific cluster of the following signs and symptoms: asthenia, fatigue, elevated heart rate at rest, and tachycardia disproportionate to exertion. The control group consisted of asymptomatic patients of equal age and gender.

Parameter

Control (asymptomatic) group (n = 25)

Study (symptomatic) group (n = 25)

P

Age [years]

64 ± 4

64 ± 5

0.9

Male gender

72% (n = 18)

72% (n = 18)

1

BSA [m2]

2.1 ± 0.5

2.4 ± 0.6

0.8

BMI [kg/m2]

26.7 ± 2.7

27.6 ± 2.6

0.6

SBP [mmHg]

125 ± 9

110 ± 8

0.01

DBP [mmHg]

74 ± 7

78 ± 9

0.01

WHO functional class:

0.0001

0

100% (n = 25)

0

I

0

0

II

0

24% (n = 6)

III

0

76% (n = 19)

IV

0

0

6MWT [m]

590 ± 40

420 ± 45

0.0001

HR at rest [bpm]

73 ± 14

91 ± 10

0.001

HR peak, on maximum physical effort [bpm]

110 ± 13

135 ± 17

0.001

Echocardiographic and Doppler parameters

RV EDD (basal) [mm]

45 ± 8

55 ± 9

0.001

RV:LV ratio

0.9 ± 0.3

1.2 ± 0.3

0.01

RV length [mm]

62 ± 13

71 ± 14

0.03

RVOT diameter [mm]

30 ± 7

32 ± 8

0.3

TAPSE [mm]

23 ± 3

16 ± 3

0.001

SPAP [mmHg]

26 ± 4

42 ± 5

0.001

RV EF (3D) [%]

50 ± 5

41 ± 6

0.001

RA area [cm2]

13 ± 4

19 ± 3

0.001

Hemodynamic parameters

mRAP [mmHg]

4 ± 2

11 ± 3

0.001

mPAP [mmHg]

16 ± 3 (range: 13–19)

23 ± 2 (range: 21–27)

0.01

PCWP [mmHg]

9 ± 2

8 ± 2

0.8

mRAP/PCWP

0.44 ± 0.22

1.38 ± 0.29

0.0001

PVR [Wood Unit]

1.5 ± 0.6

3.1 ± 0.7

0.01

CI [L/min/m2]

2.7 ± 0.6

2.2 ± 0.4

0.01

RV SV [mL/beat]

77 ± 16

59 ± 14

0.001

RV EDD [mm]

48 ± 13

59 ± 12

0.001

RV EF [%]

55 ± 9

43 ± 9

0.001

Twenty-one patients/25 (84% of the entire population) had an additional control after 6 months, and 15/25 (60%) one more after 1 year of follow-up. In these patients we noted a significant improvement in pulmonary pressure (mPAP passed from 23 ± 2 to 20 ± 4 mmHg after 6 months, to 18 ± ± 5 mmHg after 1 year of follow-up; p = 0.01 for all comparisons); a significant increase in RV systolic performance (RVSV moved from 59 ± 8 to 66 ± ± 10 mL at 6 months, and 72 ± 12 mL after 1 year; p = 0.01); associated with a significant amelioration of 6MWT (from 420 ± 45 to 495 ± 40 m after 6 months, to 520 ± 35 m after 1 year; p = 0.001).

All patients who presented the following cluster of signs/symptoms: asthenia, fatigue, high HR at rest, and tachycardia disproportionate to physical exertion, suffered from mild degree pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and severe RV systolic dysfunction. We found a perfect match between this hemodynamic status and the described clinical condition.

All our symptomatic patients presented a mPAP > 20 mmHg, a value already indicative of PH according to the 6th World Symposium on Pulmonary Hypertension of Nice, 2018 [4]. In addition, RVSV and EF were both reduced by about 40% compared to the asymptomatic (control) group.

Our hypothesis would be that, in relation to the parenchymal (“ground-glass” and “dense” opacifications) and vascular pulmonary involvement (markedly impaired pulmonary perfusion, caused by pulmonary angiopathy and thrombosis) that occurs during the acute phase of pneumonia [5, 6], an increase in PVR develops, with a consequent onset of PH [7]. RV normally works at an extremely low level of afterload, and the muscle thickness of its free wall is not particularly conspicuous. However, when the RV is stressed by an increase in afterload, its internal cavity gradually expands [8, 9]. In this phase of the disease, the right atrium acts as an effective pump in the late diastole. The pressure in the right atrium consequently increases. The intensification of the right atrium contractile efficiency implies a recruitment of preload, which has the function of more effectively filling the underlying ventricle. According to the Frank-Starling principle, the RV increases the stroke volume [9].

Furthermore, the most important and timely compensatory mechanism capable of maintaining an adequate CO, represented by the stimulation of the sympathetic-adrenaline reflex, becomes active from the earliest stages of the disease, which leads to positive chronotropic and inotropic effects [10].

In conclusion, there is a phase of COVID-19, after discharge, characterized by PAH and RV systolic dysfunction. As long as this state persists, patients suffer from a specific cluster of symptoms and signs.

Our results allow us to assume that recovery of normal RV function is gradual and spontaneous. In other words, the RV initially sustains an increase in pulmonary resistance, and then gradually resumes its function, as after a “stunning”. However, it is noticeable that the disappearance of symptoms is always accompanied by improvement of the RV systolic performance.

Conflict of interest: None declared

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