Official Title
Opportunistic Screening for Asymptomatic Left Ventricular Dysfunction in COVID-19 Survivors
Brief Summary

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) emerged in December 2019, and in mere few months has resulted in a pandemic of viral pneumonia. Substantial proportion of patients with COVID-19 have biochemical evidence of myocardial injuries during the acute phase. Possible mechanisms including acute coronary events, cytokine storm, and COVID-19 related myocarditis, have been postulated for the cardiac involvement in COVID-19. It is uncertain whether COVID-19 survivors are at risk cardiac dysfunction including cardiac arrhythmia and heart failure. The prospective screening study aims to evaluate the possible latent effects from COVID-19 in COVID-19 survivors. COVID-19 survivors 4-6 weeks after hospital discharge will be recruited from the Infectious Disease clinic, Queen Mary Hospital with standard 12-lead electrocardiogram, serum troponin, NT-proBNP, and standard transthoracic echocardiogram. The outcome measures include (1) new onset cardiac arrhythmia, (2) N Terminal (NT)-proBNP elevation above the diagnostic range of heart failure, and (3) newly detected left ventricular dysfunction.

Detailed Description

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) emerged in December 2019, and in mere few months has
resulted in a pandemic of viral pneumonia. As of April 2020, over 2 million populations were
infected and more than 150,000 deaths globally. In the initial report from Wuhan, China, up
to 27.8% COVID19 patients had an elevated troponin level indicating myocardial damage during
the index hospitalization for COVID. This is nearly 10-folded higher than that of other
common viral illnesses such as influenza (2.9%). Possible mechanisms including acute coronary
events, cytokine storm, and COVID-19 related myocarditis, have been postulated for the
cardiac involvement in COVID-19. Nonetheless, it is unknown whether COVID-19 survivors are at
risk cardiac dysfunction including cardiac arrhythmia and heart failure.

The prospective screening study aims to evaluate the possible latent effects from COVID-19 in
COVID-19 survivors. COVID-19 survivors 4-6 weeks after hospital discharge will be recruited
from the Infectious Disease clinic, Queen Mary Hospital. Standard 12-lead electrocardiogram,
serum troponin, NT-proBNP, and standard transthoracic echocardiogram will be performed for
COVID-19 survivors.

The outcome measures include (1) new onset cardiac arrhythmia, (2) NT-proBNP elevation above
the diagnostic range of heart failure, and (3) newly detected left ventricular dysfunction.

Unknown status
COVID-19

Diagnostic Test: Standard 12-lead ECG, NT-proBNP, echocardiography

Cardiac assessment

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

- Survivors of PCR-confirmed COVID-19

- 2-6 weeks after hospital discharge with 2 consecutive negative polymerase chain
reaction (PCR) for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus (CoV)-2.

Exclusion Criteria:

- Pre-existing heart failure

- Pre-existing left ventricular systolic dysfunction (left ventricular ejection fraction
< 50%)

- Pre-existing atrial fibrillation

- Failure to provide informed consent

Eligibility Gender
All
Eligibility Age
Minimum: 18 Years ~ Maximum: N/A
Countries
Hong Kong
Locations

The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital
Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Contacts

Chung Wah SIU, MD
852-2255-4694
cwdsiu@hku.hk

Venus HO, BSc
*52-22553597
vslho@hku.hk

The University of Hong Kong
NCT Number
MeSH Terms
COVID-19
Ventricular Dysfunction
Ventricular Dysfunction, Left