Factors influencing cardiovascular system-related post-COVID-19 sequelae: A single-center cohort study
Authors: Zhao Xiaoyu , Wang Dongli , Chen Yongzhi , Zhang Na , Li Tianshu , Fan Ruixia , Yang Lei , Yang Chuanhua , Yang Jie 
Published: May 2024

Background

COVID-19 sequelae are long-term symptoms of COVID-19. Cardiovascular disease is not only a risk factor for the occurrence of COVID-19 sequelae but also a potential result directly or indirectly caused by COVID-19 infection.

Objectives

The aim of this study is to investigate the cardiovascular system-related symptoms of outpatients and inpatients of the Cardiovascular Department of the Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine after recovery from novel coronavirus infection, analyze the influencing factors, and symptom characteristics of related symptoms, and thereby provide a basis for further formulating a reasonable diagnosis and treatment plan.

Materials and methods

From January 15, 2023 to February 15, 2023, 452 recovered patients with novel coronavirus infection who were admitted to the Cardiovascular Department of the Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine due to symptoms of the cardiovascular system (complaints of chest pain and palpitations) were involved in this study. A unified questionnaire was used to record the general information, past medical history, characteristics of chest pain or palpitations, and other COVID-19-related sequelae of the selected patients. All data were statistically analyzed by SPSS 26.0 statistical software.

Results

A total of 226 patients with cardiovascular symptoms and 226 patients without cardiovascular symptoms were included in this study. After univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis, women (OR 2.081, 95% CI = 1.358–3.189) and young people (OR 2.557, 95% CI = 1.44–4.54) had a higher risk of cardiovascular symptoms; prehypertension (OR 1.905, 95% CI = 1.091–3.329) and hypertension (OR 2.287, 95% CI = 1.433–3.649) increased the risk of cardiovascular symptoms; patients with history of previous cardiovascular disease (OR 1.862, 95% CI = 1.16–2.988) and history of diabetes (OR 2.138, 95% CI = 1.058–4.319) had a higher risk of developing cardiovascular symptoms. The main symptoms related to COVID-19 sequelae reported by all 452 patients were fatigue (76.8%), shortness of breath (54.2%), dry mouth and bitter mouth (46.0%), gastrointestinal symptoms (42.7%), sleep disturbances (37.4%), sweating (31.9%), chills (29%), dizziness (25.7%), confusion of brain fog (25.2%), and tinnitus (14.6%). Compared with patients without cardiovascular symptoms, patients with cardiovascular symptoms were more likely to have shortness of breath (OR 3.521, 95% CI = 2.226–5.472), gastrointestinal symptoms (OR 2.039, 95% CI = 1.226–3.393), and dry mouth and bitter mouth (OR 1.918, 95% CI = 1.229–2.992). The differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

In this new coronavirus infection, women, young people, the elderly, people with prehypertension, hypertension, and patients with a history of cardiovascular disease and diabetes have a higher risk of developing cardiovascular symptoms, and patients with cardiovascular symptoms are more likely to develop other COVID-19 sequelae.