Right Ventricular Dysfunction, the new Face of Long COVID-19, Assessed by Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography

Purpose: after the COVID-19 pandemic has been resolved, the world is encountered with long-term effects of this disease that is now called long-COVID-19. In this study, we aimed to assess the effects of previous severe COVID-19 on right ventricular (RV) function. Methods: and Materials: in this study, previously healthy patients who were admitted in intensive care units due to COVID-19 in a one-year period were evaluated using speckle-tracking echocardiography after one year of their resolution. The echocardiographic parameters of the RV were reported and assessed based on the COVID-19 treatment and baseline condition of the patients. Results: : Eighty-two patients with a mean age of 46.54±12.098 years old entered the study of whom 46 (56.1%) were male. Based on RV free wall longitudinal strain, RV global longitudinal strain, and RV fractional area change 8 (9.8%), 10 (12.2%), and 10 (12.2%) patients had RV dysfunction in a period of at least six months following their discharge. Nevertheless, 33.3% of the patients had at least one determinant of RV dysfunction. We found that the patients who needed anticoagulants and vasopressors were more likely to develop RV dysfunction. Also, the patients’ condition, especially respiratory rate on admission was a better predictor of future RV dysfunction compared to lab data. Conclusion: COVID-19 can induce subclinical and clinical RV dysfunction persisting for as long as a year after the resolution of infection. Since this abnormality can increase cardiovascular mortality, screening of patients who had been hospitalized due to COVID-19 for RV dysfunction might not be unreasonable.