Full and simplified assessment of Left Ventricular Diastolic Function in Covid-19 Patients admitted to ICU: feasibility, incidence and association with mortality.

Purpose: Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) is associated with poor outcomes in intensive care unit (ICU). Nonetheless, precise reporting of LVDD in COVID-19 patients is currently lacking and assessment could be challenging. Methods: : We performed an echocardiography study in COVID-19 patients admitted to ICU with the aim to describe the feasibility of full or simplified LVDD assessment and its incidence. We also evaluated the association of LVDD or of single echocardiographic parameters with hospital mortality. Results: : Between 06.10.2020 and 18.02.2021, full diastolic assessment was feasible in 74% (n=26/35) of patients receiving full echocardiogram study. LVDD incidence was 46% (n=12/26), whilst the assessment produced different results (incidence 81%, n=21/26). Nine patients were hospital-survivors (39%); incidence of LVDD (full assessment) was not different between survivors (n=2/9, 22%) and non-survivors (n=10/17, 59%; p=0.11). Also, the E/e’ ratio lateral was lower in survivors (7.4 [3.6] vs non-survivors 10.5 [6.3], p=0.03). We also found that s’ wave was higher in survivors (average, p=0.01). Conclusion: In a small single-center study, assessment of LVDD according to latest guidelines was feasible in three quarter of COVID-19 patients. Non-survivors showed a trend towards greater LVDD incidence; moreover, they had significantly worse s’ values (all) and higher E/e’ ratio (lateral).