Large Research Studies
John P. Greenwood, PhD
Professor
University of Leeds
Leeds, England, United Kingdom
Jessica Artico, MD
Clinical Research Fellow
St Bartholomew's Hospital, England, United Kingdom
Hunain Shiwani, MD
Clinical Research Fellow
University College London and Barts Heart Centre, United Kingdom
Gerry P. McCann, MD
NIHR research professor
University of Leicester
Leicester, England, United Kingdom
Giles Roditi, MD
Dr
University of Glasgow
Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
Colin Berry, MD, PhD
Professor of Cardiology
University of Glasgow
Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
Stefan K. Piechnik, PhD, FSCMR
Associate Professor of Biomedical Imaging
University of Oxford
Oxford, England, United Kingdom
Vanessa M. Ferreira, MD, PhD, FSCMR
Associate Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine
University of Oxford
Oxford, England, United Kingdom
Mark Dweck
Prof
The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Alex McConnachie, PhD
Dr
University of Glasgow
Glasgow, United Kingdom
James C. Moon, MD
Clinical Director, Imaging
Barts Heart Centre and UCL
London, England, United Kingdom
From the COVID-HEART study (ISRCTN58667920), patients hospitalised with Covid-19 in association with troponin elevation (Covid+/Troponin+) had a two-fold increase in the prevalence of heart abnormalities (LV/RV impairment, scar, or pericardial effusions) compared to two prospective matched control groups (Covid+/Troponin- and Covid-/Comorbidity+). In particular, the myocardial injury pattern was different: Covid+/Troponin+ patients had significantly more infarction and micro-infarction. Crucially, there was no difference in non-ischaemic scar or T1/T2 mapping between the three groups. However, Covid+/Troponin+ patients had a 4-fold increase in the prevalence of CMR imaging abnormalities suggestive of probable recent myocarditis according to Lake Louise Criteria (6.7% vs 1.7%), when compared to the Covid-/Comorbidity+ controls.
In this longitudinal study, we evaluate the 6-month follow-up CMR imaging data and 12-month major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in the COVID-HEART study population.
Methods:
In COVID-HEART, patients were scheduled for serial CMR at baseline and 6 months, and clinical outcome assessment at 1-year. Baseline and follow-up scans were compared to measure any resolution or progression of myocardial disease. Quality of life (QoL) and 6-minute walk test (6MWT) data were also studied. Imaging data were analysed fully blind by core-lab; statistical analysis was performed by an independent clinical trials unit.
Results:
Of the 342 patients with baseline CMR, n=242(71%) had paired, analysable scans. Of them, 170(70.2%) were male with median[IQR] age of 60.8[52.5-68.1] years. The frequency of any heart abnormality including left or right ventricular impairment, T1/T2 mapping abnormalities or pericardial disease will be presented. The nature and extent of LGE scar, its evolution and association with other imaging parameters will be reported. Patient follow-up for MACE will also be presented.
Conclusion:
In this abstract, we will present the longitudinal follow-up data of the COVID-HEART study, providing insight into the degree of myocardial involvement, its resolution and association with functional recovery using a comprehensive assessment of imaging data, biomarkers of cardiac disease and severity of Covid-19.