Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Tissue Characterization in COVID-19 Survivors

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance for Tissue Characterization-Based Risk Stratification of Cardiopulmonary Symptoms, Effort Tolerance, and Prognosis Among COVID-19 Survivors

The purpose of this study is to test if visualizing the heart with cardiac MRI/echo will be important in the understanding cardiac function and prediction of cardiopulmonary symptoms, physical effort tolerance, and outcomes in COVID-19 survivors. If successful, the research will allow us to identify the causes of lasting cardiopulmonary symptoms and begin developing cardiac and lung directed therapies accordingly.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: COVID-19; Coronavirus Disease 2019; COVID-19 Pneumonia; COVID-19 Respiratory Infection; COVID-19 Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome; COVID-19 Acute Bronchitis; COVID-19 Lower Respiratory Infection
• Intervention / Treatment: Diagnostic test: Cardiac MRI; Diagnostic test: Echocardiogram; Diagnostic test: 6-minute walk test; Diagnostic test: Questionnaire

Detailed Description

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an ongoing global pandemic. Despite substantial short term mortality risk, the overwhelming majority of infected patients survive acute illness, resulting in a growing population at risk for long term events. Cardiopulmonary symptoms are common after COVID-19, as shown by survey data reporting fatigue (53%), dyspnea (43%), and worsened quality of life (44%) 60 days after acute infection, but mechanism and time course of symptoms are unknown. Recent studies and the investigator's preliminary data have shown myocardial tissue abnormalities on cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) to be common in COVID-19 survivors - raising the possibility that symptoms stem from viral effects on the heart. However, CMR findings to date are limited by small size and clinical data susceptible to referral bias, raising uncertainty as to generalizability. It is also unknown whether altered myocardial tissue properties (fibrosis, edema) impact clinical outcomes.

The central hypothesis of the research is that CMR tissue characterization will be incremental to clinical assessment and cardiac contractile function for prediction of long-term cardiopulmonary symptoms, effort tolerance, and prognosis among COVID-19 survivors. To test this, the investigators will study patients from an active multiethnic New York City registry of COVID-19 survivors: the investigators have already leveraged echocardiographic imaging data from this registry to show that (1) adverse cardiac remodeling (dilation, dysfunction) markedly augments short term mortality, (2) COVID-19 acutely alters left and right ventricular remodeling, and (3) many patients who survive initial hospitalization for COVID-19 have adverse cardiac remodeling - including 40% with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and 32% with adverse RV remodeling (dilation, dysfunction): the investigator's current proposal will extend logically on the preliminary data to test whether CMR tissue characterization provides incremental predictive utility with respect to reverse remodeling and prognosis. At least 510 COVID-19 survivors will be studied. Echo will be analyzed at time of and following COVID-19 for longitudinal remodeling, as will CMR at pre-specified (6-12, 36 month) follow-up timepoints. Established and novel CMR technologies will be employed, including assessment of cardiac and lung injury, high resolution (3D) myocardial tissue characterization, and cardiopulmonary blood oxygenation. In parallel, QOL, effort tolerance (6-minute walk test), biomarkers, and rigorous follow-up will be obtained to discern clinical implications and relative utility of imaging findings. Aim 1 will identify determinants of impaired quality of life and effort intolerance among COVID-19 survivors. Aim 2 will test whether myocardial tissue injury on CMR is associated with impaired contractility, and whether fibrosis predicts contractile recovery. Aim 3 will determine whether myocardial tissue injury is independently associated with adverse prognosis (new onset clinical heart failure, hospitalization, mortality). Results will address key knowledge gaps regarding COVID-19 effects on the heart necessary to guide surveillance, risk stratification, and targeted therapies for millions of COVID-19 survivors at risk for myocardial injury, cardiopulmonary symptoms, and adverse prognosis.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 510

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Mahniz Reza, BA; Phone Number: 2127462627; Email: CovidHeartStudy@med.cornell.edu
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Elizabeth Manowitz, BS; Phone Number: 2127462627; Email: elm4036@med.cornell.edu

Study Locations

• United States
  • New York
    • Brooklyn, New York, United States, 11215-3609
      • Recruiting
      • New York Presbyterian-Brooklyn Methodist Hospital
      • Principal Investigator: Jiwon Kim, MD
      • Sub-Investigator: Jonathan W Weinsaft, MD
      • Contact: Elizabeth Manowitz, BS; Phone Number: 2127462627; Email: elm4036@med.cornell.edu
      • Contact: Marline Attallah, MD; Phone Number: 2127462627; Email: CovidHeartStudy@med.cornell.edu
    • New York, New York, United States, 10021
      • Recruiting
      • New York Presbyterian Queens
      • Principal Investigator: Jiwon Kim, MD
      • Sub-Investigator: Jonathan W Weinsaft, MD
      • Contact: Elizabeth Manowitz, BS; Phone Number: 2127462627; Email: elm4036@med.cornell.edu
      • Contact: Susan Ingenito; Phone Number: 7186702414; Email: CovidHeartStudy@med.cornell.edu
    • New York, New York, United States, 10021
      • Recruiting
      • Weill Cornell Medicine/New-York Presbyterian Hospital
      • Principal Investigator: Jiwon Kim, MD
      • Sub-Investigator: Jonathan W Weinsaft, MD
      • Contact: Mahniz Reza, BA; Phone Number: 2127462627; Email: CovidHeartStudy@med.cornell.edu
      • Contact: Elizabeth Manowitz, BS; Phone Number: 2127462627; Email: elm4036@med.cornell.edu

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 14 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Study Population will be comprised of 510 patients (Men and women ≥ 18 years old) with documented (SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR+) COVID-19 infection, inclusive of patients with residual cardiopulmonary symptoms (shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pain) and asymptomatic patients.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Emergency room presentation and/or hospitalization with COVID-19 infection defined in accordance with established criteria as follows: SAR-CoV2 RT-PCR+ (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) and at least one of the following symptoms: dyspnea, cough, dysphagia, rhinorrhea, diarrhea, nausea/vomiting, myalgias, fever, syncope/presyncope.

Exclusion criteria:

• Contraindication to CMR (i.e. non-compatible pacemaker/defibrillator) or gadolinium (known hypersensitivity, eGFR (estimated globular filtration rate) <30 ml/min/1.73m2).
• Inability to provide informed consent (e.g. cognitive impairment).
• Unrelated condition (e.g. neoplasm) with life expectancy <12 months prohibiting follow-up.
• Patients with contraindications to gadolinium (known or suspected hypersensitivity, glomerular filtration rate < 30 ml/min/1.73m2) will undergo non-contrast MRI but will not be excluded from this study.
• Patients with known or suspected pregnancy based on Weill Cornell Radiology intake surveys (reviewed by a clinical RN (registered nurse), as well as research personnel) will be excluded from the protocol.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Cohort
• Time Perspectives: Prospective

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Intervention / Treatment

Diagnosed with COVID-19; Participants in the study cohort will have been diagnosed with COVID-19 by a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) positive test

Diagnostic test: Cardiac MRI; Patients participate in an NIH funded cardiac MRI to assess their symptoms.; Diagnostic test: Echocardiogram; Patients participate in an NIH funded cardiac echocardiogram to assess their symptoms.; Diagnostic test: 6-minute walk test; Patients participate in a 6-minute walk test to assess their symptoms.; Diagnostic test: Questionnaire; Patients answer a survey-based questionnaire to assess their symptoms.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Participants with focal fibrosis based on cardiac imaging (MRI and echocardiogram) > 3 months post-COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) diagnosis, at first study visit	Focal fibrosis scored on LGE(late gadolinium enhancement) CMR in affected LV segment based on transmural extent of hyperenhanced myocardium at > 3 months post-COVID-19 diagnosis. Further categorized in accordance with established criteria (ischemic: subendocardial or transmural, non-ischemic: mid or epicardial). Total size (% LV myocardium) measured based on segmental scores, further quantified using the full-width half maximum method.	Day of first study visit, > 3 months post acute COVID-19 infection
Participants with focal fibrosis based on cardiac imaging (MRI and echocardiogram) at 12-36 months post first study visit	Focal fibrosis scored on LGE-CMR in affected LV segment based on transmural extent of hyperenhanced myocardium at 12-36 months post first study visit. Further categorized in accordance with established criteria (ischemic: subendocardial or transmural, non-ischemic: mid or epicardial). Total size (% LV myocardium) measured based on segmental scores, further quantified using the full-width half maximum method.	12-36 months post first study visit
Blood oxygenation of participants at > 3 months post-COVID-19 diagnosis, first study visit	Blood oxygenation in both the heart (LV/RV) and pulmonary arteries measured on QSM (quantitative susceptibility mapping) at > 3 months post-COVID-19 diagnosis, first study visit: conversion from susceptibility to blood oxygenation. Compute left-right heart oxygen saturation difference (ΔSO2) for which venous saturation will be measured in the RV outflow tract/pulmonary artery (PA) junction (analogous to invasive cath), left and right pulmonary artery differential saturation and relative saturation (in relation to the RV), and mixed venous oxygen saturation (SvO2), which will be calculated by subtracting ΔSO2 (on QSM) from arterial oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximetry (obtained at conclusion of CMR exam).	Day of first study visit, > 3 months post- acute COVID-19 infection
Blood oxygenation of participants at 12-36 months post first study visit	Blood oxygenation in both the heart (LV/RV) and pulmonary arteries measured on QSM (quantitative susceptibility mapping) at 12-36 months post first study visit: conversion from susceptibility to blood oxygenation. Compute left-right heart oxygen saturation difference (ΔSO2) for which venous saturation will be measured in the RV outflow tract/pulmonary artery (PA) junction (analogous to invasive cath), left and right pulmonary artery differential saturation and relative saturation (in relation to the RV), and mixed venous oxygen saturation (SvO2), which will be calculated by subtracting ΔSO2 (on QSM) from arterial oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximetry (obtained at conclusion of CMR exam).	12-36 months post first study visit
Lung abnormalities in participants at > 3 months post-COVID-19 infection	Lung abnormalities at > 3 months post-COVID-19 infection graded on high resolution 3D MRA (magnetic resonance angiography) as (1) consolidative or ground glass signal abnormality or (2) linear areas of scarring and fibrosis. A validated semi-quantitative scoring system is then be applied as follows: each of the 5 lung lobes scored based on extent of anatomic involvement where 0=no involvement: 1=<5% involvement; 2=5-25% involvement; 3=26-59% involvement; 4=51-75% involvement; and 5=>75% involvement. The resulting global score is the sum of each individual lobar score (range 0-25).	Day of first study visit, > 3 months post- acute COVID-19 infection
Lung abnormalities in participants at 12-36 months post first study visit	Lung abnormalities at 12-36 months post first study visit graded on high resolution 3D MRA (magnetic resonance angiography) as (1) consolidative or ground glass signal abnormality or (2) linear areas of scarring and fibrosis. A validated semi-quantitative scoring system is then be applied as follows: each of the 5 lung lobes scored based on extent of anatomic involvement where 0=no involvement: 1=<5% involvement; 2=5-25% involvement; 3=26-59% involvement; 4=51-75% involvement; and 5=>75% involvement. The resulting global score is the sum of each individual lobar score (range 0-25).	12-36 months post first study visit
Quality of life (QOL) in participants at > 3 months post-COVID-19 diagnosis, at first study visit based on clinical indices and symptoms assessed by the (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System) PROMIS-29 questionnaire.	QOL at > 3 months post-COVID-19 diagnosis evaluated based on scores from the (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System) PROMIS-29 questionnaire (0-10 scale per 7 categories) which is represented by a standardized T-score (mean=50, Standard Deviation=10). QOL data will be analyzed as a continuous variable.	Day of first study visit, > 3 months post- acute COVID-19 infection
Quality of life (QOL) in participants at 12-36 months post first study visit based on clinical indices and symptoms assessed by the (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System) PROMIS-29 questionnaire.	QOL at 12-36 months post first study visit evaluated based on scores from the (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System) PROMIS-29 questionnaire (0-10 scale per 7 categories) which is represented by a standardized T-score (mean=50, Standard Deviation=10). QOL data will be analyzed as a continuous variable.	12-36 months post first study visit
Effort tolerance as measured by a 6-minute walk test at > 3 months post-COVID-19 diagnosis, at first study visit	Effort tolerance > 3 months post-COVID-19 diagnosis quantified via 6-minute walk test, measured as a continuous variable based on total duration walked (during 6-minute test time, or time of patient requested test termination), as well as a age and gender based binary cutoffs employed in prior literature. Impaired effort tolerance will be tested both as a binary (<85% predicted) and continuous variable (distance) for statistical analysis.	Day of first study visit, > 3 months post- acute COVID-19 infection
Effort tolerance as measured by a 6-minute walk test at 12-36 months post first study visit	Effort tolerance at 12-36 months post first study visit quantified via 6-minute walk test, measured as a continuous variable based on total duration walked (during 6-minute test time, or time of patient requested test termination), as well as a age and gender based binary cutoffs employed in prior literature. Impaired effort tolerance will be tested both as a binary (<85% predicted) and continuous variable (distance) for statistical analysis.	12-36 months post first study visit
Participants with edema based on cardiac imaging (MRI and echocardiogram) at > 3 months post-COVID-19 diagnosis, at first study visit	Edema at > 3 months post-COVID-19 diagnosis: Identified on T2 mapping assessed on a segmental basis corresponding to LGE-CMR. Elevated T2 (i.e. edema) will defined in accordance with established criteria. Myocardial T2 relaxation times extracted from T2 maps after contouring of endocardial and epicardial borders, T2 maps will be analyzed using a 16 segment AHA (American Heart Association) model. T2 values above an established threshold will be indicate presence or absence of edema where T2 value of >80 ms will be used to distinguish edema from healthy myocardium. Global edema assessed as sum of number of affected LV segments. Exploratory analyses test additional indices of edema severity, as assessed based on maximal and mean T2 in all LV segments.	Day of first study visit, > 3 months post- acute COVID-19 infection
Participants with edema based on cardiac imaging (MRI and echocardiogram) at 12-36 months post first study visit	Edema at 12-36 months post first study visit : Identified on T2 mapping assessed on a segmental basis corresponding to LGE-CMR. Elevated T2 (i.e. edema) will defined in accordance with established criteria. Myocardial T2 relaxation times extracted from T2 maps after contouring of endocardial and epicardial borders, T2 maps will be analyzed using a 16 segment AHA (American Heart Association) model. T2 values above an established threshold will be indicate presence or absence of edema where T2 value of >80 ms will be used to distinguish edema from healthy myocardium. Global edema assessed as sum of number of affected LV segments. Exploratory analyses test additional indices of edema severity, as assessed based on maximal and mean T2 in all LV segments.	12-36 months post first study visit
Participants with diffuse fibrosis based on cardiac imaging (MRI and echocardiogram) at > 3 months post-COVID-19 diagnosis, at first study visit	Diffuse fibrosis at 6-12 months post-COVID-19 diagnosis assessed based on extracellular volume (ECV) measured by T1 values in co-registered regions on pre- and post-contrast Modified Look-Locker Inversion (MOLLI): ECV will be calculated via an established formula ECV = (1-hematocrit) * [(1/T1myo post - 1/T1myo pre) / (1/T1blood post - 1/T1bloodpre)].	Day of first study visit, > 3 months post- acute COVID-19 infection
Participants with diffuse fibrosis based on cardiac imaging (MRI and echocardiogram) at 12-36 months post first study visit	Diffuse fibrosis at 12-36 months post first study visit assessed based on extracellular volume (ECV) measured by T1 values in co-registered regions on pre- and post-contrast Modified Look-Locker Inversion (MOLLI): ECV will be calculated via an established formula ECV = (1-hematocrit) * [(1/T1myo post - 1/T1myo pre) / (1/T1blood post - 1/T1bloodpre)].	12-36 months post first study visit
Quality of life (QOL) in participants at > 3 months post-COVID-19 diagnosis, at first study visit based on clinical indices and symptoms assessed by the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ)	The Minnesota Living with Heart Failure (MLHFQ) scores at > 3 months post-COVID-19 diagnosis range from 0-105 where a higher score indicates more significant impairment in health related quality of life. QOL data will be analyzed as a continuous variable.	Day of first study visit, > 3 months post- acute COVID-19 infection
Quality of life (QOL) in participants based on clinical indices and symptoms assessed by the Seattle Angina (SAQ) questionnaire at 12-36 months post first study visit	Seattle Angina (SAQ) questionnaires scored at 12-36 months post first study visit between 0-100 where higher scores indicate better functional status. QOL data will be analyzed as a continuous variable.	12-36 months post first study visit

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Weill Medical College of Cornell University
• Collaborators: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Jiwon Kim, MD, Weill Medical College of Cornell University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): July 1, 2021
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 30, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 20, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 20, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): December 21, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): January 22, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 20, 2026
• Last Verified: January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: coronavirus disease 2019,
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Respiratory Tract Infections; Infections; RNA Virus Infections; Virus Diseases; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Lung Diseases; Pneumonia, Viral; Pneumonia; Coronavirus Infections; Coronaviridae Infections; Nidovirales Infections; COVID-19; Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures; Diagnosis; Diagnostic Imaging; Diagnostic Techniques, Cardiovascular; Physical Examination; Heart Function Tests; Cardiac Imaging Techniques; Ultrasonography; Exercise Test; Neurologic Examination; Echocardiography; Walk Test; Pain Measurement
• Other Study ID Numbers: 21-02023362; R01HL159055-01 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No