Cardiac Dysfunction in Critically Ill patients with COVID-19 – A Multicentre Observational Study

Abstract

Introduction: The importance of cardiac dysfunction in critically ill patients with COVID-19 is not well studied. The aim of the study was to assess the incidence, clinical risk factors, and prognosis of cardiac dysfunction in critical illness caused by COVID-19, and to evaluate if cardiac biomarkers can detect this condition.Methods: This was a multicentre observational study performed in five intensive care units (ICUs) in Sweden. Patients admitted to participating ICU with COVID-19 were examined with echocardiography within 72 hours from admission to the ICU and again after four to seven days. Cardiac biomarkers and clinical data were collected at the time of echocardiography. Cardiac dysfunction was defined as either left ventricular (LV) dysfunction (having an ejection fraction < 50% and/or regional hypokinesia) or right ventricular (RV) dysfunction (having a tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) < 17mm or a moderate/severe RV dysfunction assessed visually).Results: We included 132 patients of whom 94 (71%) were included prospectively. The vast majority were intubated (n=127). At the time of admission to ICU, 35 (27%) patients had cardiac dysfunction and 7 patients (5%) had cardiac dysfunction detected later in the ICU-period. LV dysfunction was found in 18 patients and RV dysfunction in 17 patients, 7 patients had both RV and LV dysfunction. Noradrenaline > 0.20µg/kg/min was the only clinical variable associated with a higher risk of cardiac dysfunction. RV dysfunction was associated with an increased risk of death in a risk-adjusted model (OR 3.98, p = 0.013). Troponin and N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP) had moderate values in detecting cardiac dysfunction (AUC 0.729 and AUC 0.744, respectively). A combination of troponin < 1.44 times the upper reference limit and NTproBNP < 857ng/L had 85% probability of excluding cardiac dysfunction.Conclusions: Cardiac dysfunction is common in critically ill patients with COVID-19. Although not easily detected with clinical variables, cardiac biomarkers might be helpful. RV dysfunction is associated with an increased risk of death, these patients might benefit from further investigation or treatments. Trial registration: Registered on 24 Aug 2020 at Clinicaltrials.gov; registration number NCT04524234.