ABSTRACT
Purpose: Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) is
associated with poor outcomes in intensive care unit (ICU). Nonetheless,
precise reporting of LVDD in COVID-19 patients is currently lacking and
assessment could be challenging.
Methods: We performed an echocardiography study in COVID-19
patients admitted to ICU with the aim to describe the feasibility of
full or simplified LVDD assessment and its incidence. We also evaluated
the association of LVDD or of single echocardiographic parameters with
hospital mortality.
Results: Between 06.10.2020 and 18.02.2021, full diastolic
assessment was feasible in 74% (n=26/35) of patients receiving full
echocardiogram study. LVDD incidence was 46% (n=12/26), whilst the
assessment produced different results (incidence 81%, n=21/26). Nine
patients were hospital-survivors (39%); incidence of LVDD (full
assessment) was not different between survivors (n=2/9, 22%) and
non-survivors (n=10/17, 59%; p=0.11). Also, the E/e’ ratio lateral was
lower in survivors (7.4 [3.6] vs non-survivors 10.5 [6.3],
p=0.03). We also found that s’ wave was higher in survivors (average,
p=0.01).
Conclusion: In a small single-center study, assessment of LVDD
according to latest guidelines was feasible in three quarter of COVID-19
patients. Non-survivors showed a trend towards greater LVDD incidence;
moreover, they had significantly worse s’ values (all) and higher E/e’
ratio (lateral).