RV dysfunction seen in 22% of critically ill COVID-19 patients
Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction is seen in more than 20% of patients with COVID-19 related respiratory failure, according to a new analysis in the American Journal of Cardiology. This does not appear to be associated with a greater risk of in-hospital mortality.
The study’s authors explored data from 645 patients hospitalized in the ICU at one of two U.S. facilities in March or April 2020. A total of 43.7% of patients required mechanical ventilation and underwent an electrocardiogram while hospitalized.
While 64.9% of those patients requiring mechanical ventilation were men, the mean patient age was 62 years old. Signs of at least mild RV dysfunction were seen in 21.6% of patients, though severe RV dysfunction was seen in just 2.1% of patients.
“Patients with signs of RV dysfunction were more likely to have a history of congestive heart failure (16.4% vs 3.6%) and have a lower body mass index, but otherwise had no significant differences in clinical characteristics compared with patients without RV dysfunction,” wrote lead author Samantha K. Brenner, MD, of Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, New Jersey, and colleagues.
Also, the team added, acute kidney injury requiring renal replacement therapy was not any more likely among patients with RV dysfunction than those without RV dysfunction. It was technically less common, but the difference was not found to be statistically significant.
One key finding from the team’s analysis was that in-hospital mortality was similar among patients with RV dysfunction (62.3%) and without RV dysfunction (59.7%). Of the patients with RV dysfunction who died—38 in total—just four presented with severe RV dysfunction.
“Overall, the incidence of RV dysfunction in patients with COVID–19-related critical illness is similar to that seen in patients with non–COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome and is not a marker of worse outcomes in this setting,” the authors concluded.
The full study can be read here.
Michael has more than 18 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.