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Aims We aim to assess changes in routine echocardiographic and longitudinal strain parameters in patients recovering from Coronavirus disease 2019 during hospitalization and at 3-month follow-up. Methods and results Routine comprehensive echocardiography and STE of both ventricles were performed during hospitalization for acute coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection as part of a prospective pre-designed protocol and compared with echocardiography performed ∼3 months after recovery in 80 patients, using a similar protocol. Significantly improved right ventricle (RV) fractional area change, longer pulmonary acceleration time, lower right atrial pressure, and smaller RV end-diastolic and end-systolic area were observed at the recovery assessment (P < 0.05 for all). RV global longitudinal strain improved at the follow-up evaluation (23.2 ± 5 vs. 21.7 ± 4, P = 0.03), mostly due to improvement in septal segments. Only eight (10%) patients recovering from COVID-19 infection had abnormal ejection fraction (EF) at follow-up. However, LV related routine (E, E/e′, stroke volume, LV size), or STE parameters did not change significantly from the assessment during hospitalization. A significant proportion [36 (45%)] of patients had some deterioration of longitudinal strain at follow-up, and 20 patients (25%) still had abnormal LV STE ∼3 months after COVID-19 acute infection. Conclusion In patients previously discharged from hospitalization due to COVID-19 infection, RV routine echocardiographic and RV STE parameters improve significantly concurrently with improved RV haemodynamics. In contrast, a quarter of patients still have LV systolic dysfunction based on STE cut-offs. Moreover, LV STE does not improve significantly, implying subclinical LV dysfunction may be part and parcel of recovering from COVID-19 infection., Graphical Abstract Graphical Abstract

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text., Background: Information on the cardiac manifestations of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is scarce. We performed a systematic and comprehensive echocardiographic evaluation of consecutive patients hospitalized with COVID-19 infection. Methods: One hundred consecutive patients diagnosed with COVID-19 infection underwent complete echocardiographic evaluation within 24 hours of admission and were compared with reference values. Echocardiographic studies included left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function and valve hemodynamics and right ventricular (RV) assessment, as well as lung ultrasound. A second examination was performed in case of clinical deterioration. Results: Thirty-two patients (32%) had a normal echocardiogram at baseline. The most common cardiac pathology was RV dilatation and dysfunction (observed in 39% of patients), followed by LV diastolic dysfunction (16%) and LV systolic dysfunction (10%). Patients with elevated troponin (20%) or worse clinical condition did not demonstrate any significant difference in LV systolic function compared with patients with normal troponin or better clinical condition, but they had worse RV function. Clinical deterioration occurred in 20% of patients. In these patients, the most common echocardiographic abnormality at follow-up was RV function deterioration (12 patients), followed by LV systolic and diastolic deterioration (in 5 patients). Femoral deep vein thrombosis was diagnosed in 5 of 12 patients with RV failure. Conclusions: In COVID-19 infection, LV systolic function is preserved in the majority of patients, but LV diastolic function and RV function are impaired. Elevated troponin and poorer clinical grade are associated with worse RV function. In patients presenting with clinical deterioration at follow-up, acute RV dysfunction, with or without deep vein thrombosis, is more common, but acute LV systolic dysfunction was noted in ≈20%.

Introduction Right Ventricular (RV) dysfunction is highly prevalent and has major prognostic implication in patients with Heart Failure (HF) with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF). Different functional indices have been proposed to evaluate RV function, most common are TEI-index, TAPSE and RVFAC%. Recent works suggested that 2-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2DSTE) for RV global longitudinal strain (RVGLS) and free wall strain (RVFWS) are more sensitive in evaluating RV (dys)function than other functional and hemodynamic parameters in specific populations, such as HF with reduced EF. Purpose We aimed to assess if endocardial RVGLS, RVFWS, and RV Septal Wall Strain (RVSWS), might have a prognostic and additive value (on top of the conventional measurements) on the outcome of patients with preserved EF. Methods Retrospective analysis of RV parameters including Peak and End Systolic Strain of RVGLS, RVFWS and RVSWS, RV functional indices (RVFAC% and Machine like TAPSE), Systolic Pulmonary Artery Pressure, in 375 consecutive patients with Preserved Ejection Fraction (EF ≥50%; age 69.1±19; 51% female; Co-morbidity Charlson index 1 (3)). Multivariate Cox regression hazards model was used to determine the association between RV strain parameters to all-cause mortality. Results RVFWS, RVSWS and RVFAC% were strong predictors of mortality in univariate analysis (HR 1.07 [1.03–1.1]; p≤0.0001, HR 1.08 [1.05–1.12]; p≤0.0001, HR 0.97 [0.95–0.99]; p≤0.0002, respectively). Moreover, after adjustment for clinical (age, gender, Charlson index) and echocardiographic parameters (LA volume, E/e' average, systolic pulmonary pressure), all three parameters remained statistically significant predictors of all-cause mortality (p=0.004, p=0.024, p=0.026, respectively). The best strain univariate predictor of mortality was RVGLS (HR 1.09 [1.05–1.13]; p≤0.0001), being superior to other RV functional indices and systolic pulmonary pressure. Also, after multivariate analysis it remained a statistically significant predictor of mortality (p=0.007). All measurements had good intra-observer and inter-observer reproducibility (Single Measures ICC = 0.90 and ICC = 0.88, respectively). Conclusions 2DSTE of RVGLS, RVFWS, RVSWS provides significant prognostic value to predict overall mortality in patients with Preserved Ejection Fraction with excellent reproducibility, incremental to routine clinical, hemodynamic and diastolic parameters. Moreover, the strain results of the septal wall showed to be significant, thereover challenging the known hypothesis that the septal wall is mainly influenced by LV function. Figure 1 Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

Cardiotoxicity has become a significant adverse effect of cancer therapy, with Anthracyclines (ANT) in particular. There is a crucial need for new imaging techniques for the early subclinical detection of cardiotoxic effect. We aimed to evaluate left atrial strain (LAS) changes during ANT therapy and to assess the correlation between LAS and the routine echocardiographic diastolic parameters.Data were prospectively collected as part of the Israel Cardio-Oncology Registry (ICOR). All female patients with breast cancer, planned for ANT therapy were included. All patients underwent serial echocardiography exams including baseline LAS (before chemotherapy, T1) and shortly after the completion of ANT therapy (T3). LAS was assessed in 3 phases: Reservoir (LASr), Conduit (LASc) and Pump (LASp). Significant reduction in LASr was determined by either a relative reduction of10% or an absolute value of35%. From September 2016 to June 2019, 40 patients were evaluated with a mean Doxorubicin (type of ANT) dose of 237±13.24mg/m2. At T3, significant reduction in LASr was observed among 50% of the patients with a mean LASr reduction from 40.15 ± 6.83% to 36.04 ± 7.73% (p0.001). LASc showed significant reduction as well (p0.004) as opposed to LASp (p=0.076). Both LASr and LASc showed significant correlation to the routine diastolic parameters.LASr and LASc reduction are frequent and occur early in the course of ANT therapy, showing significant correlation to the routine echocardiographic diastolic parameters, which may imply a role in the detection of early cardiotoxicity.

Item does not contain fulltext AIMS: We aimed to analyse the association between right haemodynamic parameters, right ventricular (RV) dysfunction parameters, and outcomes in patients with preserved ejection fraction (EF). METHODS AND RESULTS: Retrospective analysis of right haemodynamic (systolic pulmonary pressure and end-diastolic pulmonary pressure based on tricuspid regurgitation (TR) velocity at pulmonary valve opening time), and RV parameters including size (end-diastolic and end-systolic area), function (RV fractional area change, Tei index, Tricuspid Annular Plane Systolic Excursion, and speckle tracking derived free wall strain), from 557 consecutive patients with preserved EF [EF >/= 50%; age 64.9 + 20; 52% female; co-morbidity Charlson index 4.7 (2.9, 6.4)]. All cause and cardiac mortality were retrospectively analysed and correlated to echo haemodynamic and co-morbid parameters. TR velocity at pulmonary valve opening time and calculated end-diastolic pulmonary artery pressure were obtainable in 71% of patients. The best haemodynamic univariate predictor of mortality was calculated end-diastolic pulmonary artery pressure [hazard ratio 1.06 (1.04-1.07); P < 0.0001], superior to TR peak velocity and systolic pulmonary artery pressure. Elevated end-diastolic pulmonary artery pressure was associated with all cause and cardiac mortality even when adjusted for all significant clinical (age, gender, and Charlson index), and echo (stroke volume index, left atrial volume index, systolic pulmonary pressure, E/e', and Tei index) parameters. Tei index was superior to all other RV functional parameters (P < 0.05 for all parameters). CONCLUSION: TR velocity at pulmonary valve opening time and calculated end-diastolic pulmonary artery pressure are obtainable in most patients, and add prognostic information on top of clinical and routine haemodynamic and diastolic parameters.