Longitudinal Tracking of Cardiac Alterations Among Young Adults with SARS‐CoV‐2

Osada, Sophie; Szeghy, Rachel; Province, Valesha; Koontz, Laurel; Bobo, Landry; Stute, Nina; Augenreich, Marc; Putnam, Andrew; Stickford, Jonathon; Stickford, Abigail; Ratchford, Stephen

BACKGROUND: The novel SARS‐CoV‐2 virus inflicts far‐reaching health decrements, both directly and through secondary inflammatory stimulation. To date, there is little information regarding the effects of COVID‐19 on the heart after infection, especially among young healthy adults. PURPOSE: We sought to determine whether contracting SARS‐CoV‐2 affects cardiac function in young, otherwise healthy adults and whether these alterations recede after testing positive for SARS‐CoV‐2. METHODS: Transthoracic echocardiography was performed on 7 subjects with SARS‐CoV‐2 (3F/4M, 21±1y, 24±2 kgᐧm(‐1)) who tested positive 3‐4 weeks prior to baseline testing followed by 1‐month and 2‐month follow‐up testing. A parasternal long‐axis view was utilized to measure septal and left ventricular posterior wall thickness, left ventricular volume, and left ventricular outflow tract dimensions. A four‐chamber view was utilized to measure mitral and tricuspid valve, left ventricular, and pulmonary vein function. Data are mean±SD. RESULTS: Stroke volume (Baseline: 44±11ml, 1‐month: 42±13ml, 2‐month: 54±12ml) and stroke index (Baseline: 24±6ml/m^2, 1‐month: 22±7ml/m^2, 2‐month: 29±6ml/m^2) were elevated at 2‐month follow‐up (p<0.05). Left ventricular posterior wall thickness was lower at 1‐month follow‐up (Baseline: 1.56±0.10cm, 1‐month: 1.44±0.08cm, 2‐month: 1.47±0.13cm) (p<0.05). Pulmonary vein systolic flow decreased at 2‐month follow‐up (Baseline: 0.64±0.04m/s, 1‐month: 0.58±0.07m/s, 2‐month: 0.49±0.08m/s) (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The current findings suggest subclinical alterations to the myocardium of young adults who have recently contracted SARS‐CoV‐2. Further, these results may be reflective of a myocardium which is recovering months following initial infection.