International Journal of Cardiovascular Sciences. 20/Mar/2023;36:e20210114.

Echocardiogram in Critically ill Patients with COVID-19: ECOVID Study

Bruno Ferraz de Oliveira Gomes ORCID logo , Armando Luis Cantisano ORCID logo , Iliana Regina Ribeiro Menezes, Anny de Sousa Azevedo, Thiago Moreira Bastos da Silva ORCID logo , Valdilene Lima Silva, Giovanni Possamai Dutra ORCID logo , Suzanna Andressa Morais de Paula, Barbara Ferreira da Silva Mendes, Plinio Resende do Carmo Junior ORCID logo , Basilio de Bragança Pereira ORCID logo , Joao Luiz Fernandes Petriz ORCID logo , Glaucia Maria Moraes de Oliveira ORCID logo

DOI: 10.36660/ijcs.20210114

Abstract

Background

Literature is scarce on echocardiographic characteristics of COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).

Objectives

To describe echocardiographic characteristics of ICU COVID-19 patients and associate them with clinical signals/symptoms, laboratory findings and outcomes.

Methods

Patients with RT-PCR-confirmed COVID-19, admitted to the ICU, who underwent echocardiography were included. Clinical characteristics associated with an abnormal echocardiogram (systolic ventricular dysfunction of any degree — left and/or right ventricle — and/or high filling pressures and/or moderate to severe pericardial effusion) were analyzed. Groups were compared using the Student’s t-test, chi-square, and logistic regression. A p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

A total of 140 patients met inclusion criteria, and 74 (52.9%) had an abnormal echocardiogram. A low number of left and right ventricular systolic dysfunction was observed, and 35% of the population had a normal diastolic function. In the univariate analysis, characteristics associated with abnormal echocardiogram were age, chronic kidney disease, elevated troponin, previous heart failure, and simplified acute physiology score 3 (SAPS 3). In the regression model, troponin and SAPS3 score were independent markers of abnormal echocardiogram. An abnormal echocardiogram was associated with a higher prevalence of in-hospital death (RR 2.10; 95% CI 1.04-4.24) and orotracheal intubation (RR 2.3; 95% CI 1.14-4.78).

Conclusions

COVID-19 has little effect on ventricular function, but it is common to find increased filling pressures. Elevated serum troponin level and SAPS3 score were the independent markers of an abnormal echocardiogram. In addition, the prevalence of in-hospital death and need for mechanical ventilation were higher in patients with abnormal echocardiogram.

Echocardiogram in Critically ill Patients with COVID-19: ECOVID Study

Comments

Skip to content