The Midterm Effects of COVID-19 on the Heart of a Healthy Population: A Cardiac MRI Study

Multiple investigations have reported cardiac involvement in the early and late phases of COVID-19 infection. It is associated with notable morbidity and mortality. Early detection of cardiac involvement may render timely intervention, reducing residual myocardial injuries. We evaluated cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-derived functional and inflammatory findings 3 to 6 months after acute COVID-19 infection in a healthy population recovered from the disease and compared them with normal controls.
 
Twenty cases with a definite history of respiratory COVID-19 infection, in the preceding 3 to 6 months and 28 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects were assessed. The non-contrast cardiac MRI findings of the 2 groups were compared. Moreover, pulmonary parenchymal involvement in the acute phase and its correlation with cardiac MRI findings were evaluated. Data analysis was performed with SPSS, version 22, and a P value of less than 0.05 was considered significant.
 
Twenty subjects (mean ± SD of age = 35.30 ± 5.27 y; 55% female) with a definite history of COVID-19 infection and 28 healthy controls (mean ± SD of age = 31.07 ± 4.35 y; 50% female) were included. Biventricular ejection fraction, biventricular global longitudinal strain, right ventricular global circumferential strain, and right ventricular global radial strain were significantly different between the 2 groups. Six patients (30%) in the COVID-19 group exhibited regional myocardial edema. No significant linear correlations existed between the severity of pulmonary involvement and cardiac MRI parameters.
 
In the midterm follow-up of healthy patients after COVID-19 infection, a significant reduction was observed in myocardial strain and function, independent of the severity of lung disease. (Iranian Heart Journal 2024; 25(1): 19-26)