Abnormal left ventricular global longitudinal strain by speckle tracking echocardiography in COVID-19 patients

Croft, Lori B; Krishnamoorthy, Parasuram; Ro, Richard; Anastasius, Malcolm; Zhao, Wenli; Buckley, Samantha; Goldman, Martin; Argulian, Edgar; Sharma, Samin K; Kini, Annapoorna; Lerakis, Stamatios

COVID-19 infection can affect the cardiovascular system. We sought to determine if left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LVGLS) is affected by COVID-19 and if this has prognostic implications. Materials & methods: Retrospective study, with LVGLS was measured in 58 COVID-19 patients. Patients discharged were compared with those who died. Results: The mean LV ejection fraction (LVEF) and LVGLS for the cohort was 52.1 and -12.9 ± 4.0%, respectively. Among 30 patients with preserved LVEF(>50%), LVGLS was -15.7 ± 2.8%, which is lower than the reference mean LVGLS for a normal, healthy population. There was no significant difference in LVGLS or LVEF when comparing patients who survived to discharge or died. Conclusion: LVGLS was reduced in COVID-19 patients, although not significantly lower in those who died compared with survivors.