New-onset atrial fibrillation in patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia as a manifestation of acute myocardial injury
- Authors: Makeeva T.I.1, Zbyshevskaya E.V.1, Mayer M.V.1, Talibov F.A.1, Saiganov S.A.1
-
Affiliations:
- North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov
- Issue: Vol 3, No 2 (2023)
- Pages: 17-27
- Section: Original Research
- URL: https://journal-vniispk.ru/cardar/article/view/160756
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.17816/cardar321501
- ID: 160756
Cite item
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Over the past 3 years, the prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) has increased significantly worldwide, which was associated with the pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2. It is accompanied by an increase in the cases of ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction, and development of heart failure due to acute myocardial injury. Given the high lethality of SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19), studying the characteristics of new-onset AF is essential.
AIM: The study aims at determining the predictors of new-onset AF in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia and at analyzing the clinical and pathophysiological characteristics of acute myocardial injury.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 36 patients aged 44–82 years (average 68.0) with COVID-19 pneumonia, AF paroxysms were recorded for the first time. All of them underwent computed tomography of the chest, electrocardiography, and echocardiography. The left ventricular ejection fraction was calculated using the Simpson method. Oxygen saturation was determined as blood oxygen saturation. Clinical blood tests were performed, C-reactive protein (CRP), ferritin, D-dimer, fibrinogen, and troponin I levels were measured.
RESULTS: Along with the well-known predictors of AF development (arterial hypertension, coronary heart disease, left ventricular myocardial hypertrophy, and left atrial dilatation), with COVID-19 pneumonia, new-onset AF paroxysms were recorded in patients of the middle, elderly, and late-life age. In 44.4% of patients with AF, cardiomegaly occurred with dilatation of both atria and ventricles. With decreased left ventricular ejection fraction, the incidence of AF paroxysms reached 61.5%. With preserved ejection fraction, AF paroxysms occurred much less frequently (27%). In patients with AF, the extent of lung damage is on average 62.5% (20–80%) with oxygen support saturation of 93% (76–97%). Serum troponin I levels of > 2000 ng/L indicated acute myocardial injury. CRP and blood ferritin values confirmed the presence of a pronounced inflammatory component in myocardial injury. High concentrations of blood fibrinogen and D-dimer, reaching 16,301 ng/mL, were associated with a tendency to hypercoagulation in patients with AF and COVID-19 pneumonia.
CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 has a direct damaging effect on the myocardium and probably persists for a long time, which may induce AF in patients with acute pneumonia.
Keywords
Full Text
##article.viewOnOriginalSite##About the authors
Tatyana I. Makeeva
North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov
Email: tatianamakeeva@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-3819-486X
SPIN-code: 4915-3109
Dr. Sci. (Med.), Professor
Russian Federation, Saint PetersburgElizaveta V. Zbyshevskaya
North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov
Email: zbyshev@hotmail.com
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-2565-3548
SPIN-code: 7761-0942
PhD, Associate Professor
Russian Federation, Saint PetersburgMark V. Mayer
North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov
Email: maier-mark@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-4658-4975
PhD Student
Russian Federation, Saint PetersburgFaiz A. Talibov
North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov
Email: faiz-talibov@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-0284-9521
PhD Student
Russian Federation, Saint PetersburgSergey A. Saiganov
North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov
Author for correspondence.
Email: sergey.sayganov@szgmu.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-7319-2734
SPIN-code: 2174-6400
Dr. Sci. (Med.), Professor
Russian Federation, Saint PetersburgReferences
- Kuda propala ispanka, ubivshaya milliony? 02.02.2019 [cited 2023 Jan 27]. Available from: https://masterok-livejournal-com.turbopages.org/masterok.livejournal.com/s/5101946.html.
- Rybakova MG, Karev VE, Kuznetsova IA. Anatomical pathology of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infection. First impressions. Arkhiv Patologii. 2020;82(5):5-15. (In Russ.) doi: 10.17116/patol2020820515
- Katsoularis I, Fonseca-Rodríguez O, Farrington P, et al. Risk of acute myocardial infarction and ischaemic stroke following COVID-19 in Sweden: a self-controlled case series and matched cohort study. The Lancet. 2021;398(10300):599–607. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00896-5
- Gopinathannair R, Merchant FM, Lakkireddy DR, et al. COVID-19 and cardiac arrhythmias: a global perspective on arrhythmia characteristics and management strategies. Journal of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology. 2020;59(2):329–336. doi: 10.1007/s10840-020-00789-9
- Kochi AN, Tagliari AP, Forleo GB, et al. Cardiac and arrhythmic complications in patients with COVID-19. Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology. 2020;31(5):1003–1008. doi: 10.1111/jce.14479
- Bhatla A, Mayer MM, Adusumalli S, et al. COVID-19 and cardiac arrhythmias. Heart Rhythm. 2020;17(9):1439-1444. doi: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2020.06.016
- Sala S, Peretto G, De Luca G, et al. Low prevalence of arrhythmias in clinically stable COVID-19 patients. Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology. 2020;43(8):891–893. doi: 10.1111/pace.13987
- Bhatia KS, Sritharan HP, Chia J, et al. Cardiac Complications in Patients Hospitalised With COVID-19 in Australia. Heart, Lung & Circulation. 2021;30(12):1834–1840. doi: 10.1016/j.hlc.2021.08.001
- Romiti GF, Corica B, Lip GYH, Proietti M. Prevalence and Impact of Atrial Fibrillation in Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2021;10 (11):2490. doi: 10.3390/jcm10112490
- Rosenblatt AG, Ayers CR, Rao A, et al. New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation in Patients Hospitalized With COVID-19: Results from the American Heart Association COVID-19 Cardiovascular Registry. Circulation. Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology. 2022;15(5):e010666. doi: 10.1161/CIRCEP.121.010666
- Wollborn J, Karamnov S, Fields KG, et al. COVID-19 increases the risk for the onset of atrial fibrillation hospitalized patients. Scientific Reports. 2022;12(1):12014. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-16113-6
- Kedrov AA. Virusnye miokardity. Rukovodstvo po kardiologii / Ed. by E.I. Chazova. Vol. 3. Moscow: Meditsina, 1982. P. 133–136. (In Russ.).
- Serezhina YeK, Obrezan AG. Atrial fibrillation associated with novel coronavirus infection: mechanisms and therapeutic approaches. 2021;2(9):14–20. doi: 10.33029/2309-1908-2021-9-2-14-20
- Ruan Q, Yang K, Wang W, et al. Clinical predictors of mortality due to COVID-19 based on an analysis of data of 150 patients from Wuhan, China. Intensive Care Medicine. 2020; 46:846–848. doi: 10.1007/s00134-020-05991-x
- Zylla MM, Merle U, Vey JA, et al. Predictors and Prognostic Implications of Cardiac Arrhythmias in Patients Hospitalized for COVID-19. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2021;10(1):133. doi: 10.3390/jcm10010133
- Kogan E, Berezovskiy Y, Blagova O, et al. Morphologically, immunohistochemically and PCR proven lymphocytic viral peri, endo, myocarditis in patients with fatal COVID-19. Diagnostic Pathology. 2022; 17(1):31. doi: 10.1186/s13000-022-01207-6
- Siripanthong B, Nazarian S, Muser D, et al. Recognizing COVID-19-related myocarditis: the possible pathophysiology and proposed guideline for diagnosis and management. Heart Rhythm. 2020;17(9):1463–1471. doi: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2020.05.001
- Coromilas EJ, Kochav S, Goldenthal I, et al. Worldwide Survey of COVID-19-Associated Arrhythmias. Circulation Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology. 2021;14(3):e009458. doi: 10.1161/CIRCEP.120.009458
- Mazur ES, Mazur VV, Bazhenov ND, et al. Features of Left Atrial Appendage Thrombosis in Patients with Persistent Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation After COVID-19. Kardiologiia. 2023;63(1):29–35. (In Russ.) doi: 10.18087/cardio.2023.1.n2350
- Peltzer B, Manocha KK, Ying X, et al. Outcomes and mortality associated with atrial arrhythmias among patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology. 2020;31(12):3077–3085. doi: 10.1111/jce.14770
- Podzolkov VI, Tarzimanova AI, Bragina AE, et al. Predictors of atrial fibrillation in patients with COVID-19. Russian Journal of Cardiology. 2022;27(7):5095. (In Russ.) doi: 10.15829/1560-4071-2022-5095
- Corradi D. Atrial fibrillation from the pathologist’s perspective. Cardiovascular pathology. 2006;23(2):71-84. doi: 10.1016/j.carpath.2013.12.001
- Taha ME, Alsafi W, Taha M, et al. Coronavirus Disease and New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation: Two Cases. Cureus. 2020;12(5):e8066. doi: 10.7759/cureus.8066
- Rav-Acha M., Orlev A., Itzhaki I., et al. Cardiac arrhythmias amongst hospitalised Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) patients: Prevalence, characterisation, and clinical algorithm to classify arrhythmic risk. International Journal of Clinical Practice. 2020;75(4):e13788. doi: 10.1111/ijcp.13788
- ESC COVID-19 Guidance. 10.02.2023 [cited 2023 March 10]. Available from: https://www.escardio.org/Education/COVID-19-and-Cardiology/.
Supplementary files
