Assessment of Subtle Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients by Echocardiography Speckle Tracking: A Cross-sectional Study

Background:   Heart problems, especially in hospitalized patients, have been linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is possible for them to be subtle deficits in left ventricular (LV) systolic function even when there are no significant cardiac symptoms. Clinical results may be greatly improved with early detection of such dysfunction.
Objectives: To evaluate subtle changes in LV systolic function in patients hospitalized with moderate to severe COVID-19.
Patients and methods: In this cross-sectional study, 65 individuals hospitalized with moderate to severe COVID-19 were included. Echocardiographic evaluations were performed within the first 10 days of pulmonary infection.
Results:  Cough and cardiac chest discomfort were significantly higher in patients with severe COVID-19 compared to moderate cases. There was a significant difference in the two groups' respiratory rates and blood pressures. Patients suffering from severe COVID-19 had a much-decreased LV ejection fraction (LVEF) when contrasted with those suffering from moderate illness. Additionally, global longitudinal strain values were significantly reduced in severe cases versus moderate cases. Among the total patient cohort, 23% demonstrated abnormal global longitudinal strain values, while another 6% had borderline results. LV systolic dysfunction was significantly more prevalent in severe cases, affecting 80% of these patients compared to 20% of those with moderate disease.
Conclusions: Traditional measures of EF are less sensitive than global longitudinal strain when it comes to detecting early signs of heart deterioration. Speckle monitoring echocardiography might be a useful tool for improving clinical outcomes and allowing for earlier intervention in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, especially those with advanced illness.