Enlarged dimensions of cardiac chambers and the root of the aorta as a significant cardiovascular impact of pandemic COVID-19: a population-based study

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): National Centre of Science. Background The long-term complications in the cardiovascular (CV) system that the acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) may cause are not fully understood. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of a coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on echocardiographic (ECHO) and electrocardiographic (ECG) parameters. Methods This was single-center prospective cohort study. The study population consisted of 2 groups: the group before the COVID-19 pandemic (713 probands tested from 18. March 2018 to 17. March 2020) compared to the group during the COVID-19 pandemic (425 probands tested from 14. July 2020 to 02. March 2022). The comprehensive assessment was performed including laboratory parameters, ECHO and ECG. Results The studied populations did not differ by sex, age, body mass index and systolic blood pressure (BPs), while diastolic BP (BPd) was significantly lower in the group during the COVID-19 pandemic (p<0.001). In the group during COVID-19 the dimensions of all cardiac chambers, i.e., left atrial dimension (p<0.001), left atrial volume index (LAVI) (p<0.001), right atrial volume (p<0.001), left ventricular dimension (p=0.013), right ventricular dimension (p=0.046) and aortic root dimension (p=0.001) were larger compared to the pre-pandemic population. The ECG showed longer P-wave (p=0.022), PQ segment (<0.001) and QRS complex durations (p=0.042) in the pandemic population compared to the pre-pandemic population. In contrast, there was no significant statistical difference between the analyzed groups in terms of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) assessed by ECHO or ECG criteria. In addition, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) concentrations was significantly higher in the population during COVID-19 (p=0.011). Conclusion SARS-CoV-2 has had an impact on the cardiovascular system by increasing the size of all heart chambers and the root of the aorta which may have deleterious effects in the future. Careful monitoring of long-term effects is needed.