Prospective case-control study of cardiovascular abnormalities six months following mild COVID-19 in healthcare workers
Authors: Joy G , Artico J , Kurdi H , Lau C , Adam RD , Menacho KM , Pierce I , Captur G , Davies R , Schelbert EB , Fontana M , Kellman P , Treibel TA , Manisty C , Moon JC 
Published: July 2021

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): Barts Charity UCLH Charity

OnBehalf

COVIDsortium

Background

Recent CMR studies have reported cardiac abnormalities after COVID-19 are common, even after mild, non-hospitalised illness with evidence of ongoing myocardial inflammation.  Such a prevalence of chronic myocarditis after mild disease has prompted societal concerns in diverse domains, and suggests that screening should be considered post COVID-19, even in asymptomatic individuals.  Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) has proven utility for diagnosis in patients with COVID-19 infection and elevated troponin from unclear causes by measuring cardiac structure, function, myocardial scar (late gadolinium enhancement) and oedema (T1 and T2 mapping).

Objectives

We aimed to determine the prevalence and extent of late cardiac and cardiovascular sequelae after mild non-hospitalised SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Methods

Participants were recruited from COVIDsortium, a three-hospital prospective study of 731 healthcare workers who underwent first wave weekly symptom, PCR and serology assessment over 4 months, with seroconversion in 21.5% (n = 157). At 6 months post infection, 74 seropositive and 75 age-, sex-, ethnicity-matched seronegative controls were recruited for cardiovascular phenotyping (comprehensive phantom-calibrated Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance and blood biomarkers). Analysis was blinded, using objective AI analytics where available.

Results

149 subjects (mean age 37 years, range 18-63, 58% female) were recruited. Seropositive infections had been mild with case definition/non-case definition/asymptomatic disease in 45(61%), 18(24%) and 11(15%) with one person hospitalised (for 2 days). Between seropositive and seronegative groups, there were no differences in cardiac structure (left ventricular volumes, mass; atrial area), function (ejection fraction, global longitudinal shortening, aortic distensibility), tissue characterisation (T1, T2, ECV mapping, late gadolinium enhancement) or biomarkers (troponin, NT-proBNP).  With abnormal defined by the 75 seronegatives (2 standard deviations from mean, e.g. EF &lt; 54%, septal T1 &gt; 1072ms, septal T2 &gt; 52.4ms), individuals had abnormalities including reduced EF (n = 2, minimum 50%), T1 elevation (n = 6), T2 elevation (n = 9), LGE (n = 13, median 1%, max 5% of myocardium), biomarker elevation (borderline troponin elevation in 4; all NT-proBNP normal). These were distributed equally between seropositive and seronegative individuals.

Conclusions

Cardiovascular abnormalities are no more common in seropositive vs seronegative otherwise healthy, workforce representative individuals 6 months post mild SARS-CoV-2 infection.  Our study provides societal reassurance for the cardiovascular health of working-aged individuals with convalescence from mild SARS-CoV-2. Screening asymptomatic individuals following mild diseases is not indicated.