Suspected myocardial injury in patients with COVID-19: Evidence from front-line clinical observation in Wuhan, China

Qing Deng, Bo Hu, Yao Zhang, Hao Wang, Xiaoyang Zhou, Wei Hu, Yuting Cheng, Jie Yan, Haiqin Ping, Qing Zhou, Qing Deng, Bo Hu, Yao Zhang, Hao Wang, Xiaoyang Zhou, Wei Hu, Yuting Cheng, Jie Yan, Haiqin Ping, Qing Zhou

Abstract

Background: A novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Wuhan has caused an outbreak and become a major public health issue in China and great concern from international community. Myocarditis and myocardial injury were suspected and may even be considered as one of the leading causes for death of COVID-19 patients. Therefore, we focused on the condition of the heart, and sought to provide firsthand evidence for whether myocarditis and myocardial injury were caused by COVID-19.

Methods: We enrolled patients with confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 retrospectively and collected heart-related clinical data, mainly including cardiac imaging findings, laboratory results and clinical outcomes. Serial tests of cardiac markers were traced for the analysis of potential myocardial injury/myocarditis.

Results: 112 COVID-19 patients were enrolled in our study. There was evidence of myocardial injury in COVID-19 patients and 14 (12.5%) patients had presented abnormalities similar to myocarditis. Most of patients had normal levels of troponin at admission, that in 42 (37.5%) patients increased during hospitalization, especially in those that died. Troponin levels were significantly increased in the week preceding the death. 15 (13.4%) patients have presented signs of pulmonary hypertension. Typical signs of myocarditis were absent on echocardiography and electrocardiogram.

Conclusions: The clinical evidence in our study suggested that myocardial injury is more likely related to systemic consequences rather than direct damage by the 2019 novel coronavirus. The elevation in cardiac markers was probably due to secondary and systemic consequences and can be considered as the warning sign for recent adverse clinical outcomes of the patients.

Keywords: COVID-19; Cardiac marker; Myocardial injury; Myocarditis; Novel coronavirus.

Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of competing interest The authors report no relationships that could be construed as a conflict of interest.

Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Figures

Supplementary Fig. 1
Supplementary Fig. 1
The changes of cardiac markers over time in patients with COVID-19 and died during hospitalization. (A) The changes over time before death. (B) The comparisons between the first test and peak within the week preceding death. CK-MB: Creatinine kinase MB; NT-pro BNP: N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide.

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