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Utility of cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging in COVID-19 recovered patients: a short-term follow-up study
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  • Mohit Gupta,
  • Shekhar Kunal,
  • Prachi Bagarhatta,
  • Girish MP,
  • Ankit Bansal,
  • Vishal Batra,
  • Mradul Daga K,
  • Sanjay Tyagi,
  • Ashok Sharma,
  • Kalpana Bansal,
  • Ritu Agarwal
Mohit Gupta
Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital

Corresponding Author:drmohitgupta@yahoo.com

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Shekhar Kunal
Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital
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Prachi Bagarhatta
Maulana Azad Medical College
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Girish MP
Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital
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Ankit Bansal
Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital
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Vishal Batra
Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital
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Mradul Daga K
Maulana Azad Medical College
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Sanjay Tyagi
Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital
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Ashok Sharma
Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital
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Kalpana Bansal
Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital
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Ritu Agarwal
Eternal Heart Care Centre and Research Institute
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Abstract

Objective: To evaluate for cardiac involvement in recovered COVID-19 patients using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods: A total of 30 subjects recently recovered from COVID-19 and abnormal left ventricular global longitudinal strain were enrolled. Routine investigations, inflammatory markers and cardiac MRI were done at baseline with follow-up scan at 6 months in individuals with abnormal baseline scan. Additionally, 20 age-and sex-matched individuals were enrolled as healthy controls (HCs). Results: All 30 enrolled subjects were symptomatic during active COVID-19 disease and were categorized as mild: 11 (36.7%), moderate: 6 (20%) and severe: 13 (43.3%). Of the 30 patients, 16 (53.3%) had abnormal CMR findings. Myocardial edema was reported in 12 (40%) patients while 10 (33.3%) had LGE. No difference was observed in terms of conventional LV parameters however, COVID-19 recovered patients had significantly lower right ventricular (RV) ejection fraction, RV stroke volume and RV cardiac index compared to HCs. Follow-up scan was abnormal in 4/16 (25%) with LGE persisting in 3 patients. Myocardial T1 (1284 + 43.8 ms vs 1147.6 + 68.4 ms; P<0.0001) and T2 values (50.8+16.7 ms vs 42.6+3.6 ms; P=0.04) were significantly higher in post COVID-19 subjects compared to HCs. Similarly, T1 and T2 values of severe COVID-19 patients were significantly higher compared to mild and moderate cases. Conclusions: An abnormal CMR was seen in half of recovered patients with persistent abnormality in one-fourth at six months. Our study suggests a need for closer follow-up among recovered subjects in order to evaluate for long term cardiovascular sequalae.
24 Mar 2022Submitted to Echocardiography
28 Apr 2022Submission Checks Completed
28 Apr 2022Assigned to Editor
03 May 2022Reviewer(s) Assigned
15 Jul 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
09 Aug 2022Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
29 Aug 20221st Revision Received
29 Aug 2022Submission Checks Completed
29 Aug 2022Assigned to Editor
29 Aug 2022Reviewer(s) Assigned
09 Sep 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
19 Sep 2022Editorial Decision: Accept