Back to Search Start Over

Assessment of Endothelial Function in Patients with COVID-19 Using Peripheral Arterial Tonometry

Authors :
Athanasios Moulias
Rafail Koros
Angeliki Papageorgiou
Spyridon Katechis
Panagiotis Patrinos
Aikaterini Trigka-Vasilakopoulou
Athanasios Papageorgiou
Ourania Papaioannou
Karolina Akinosoglou
Georgios Leventopoulos
Grigorios Tsigkas
Argyrios Tzouvelekis
Periklis Davlouros
Source :
Life, Vol 14, Iss 11, p 1512 (2024)
Publication Year :
2024
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2024.

Abstract

There is increasing evidence that COVID-19 induces endothelial dysfunction that may precede thrombotic and cardiovascular complications. The aim of this study is to evaluate endothelial function using peripheral arterial tonometry (EndoPAT). The primary endpoint is the hyperemic vascular response index (LnRHI) at two months post-discharge. Secondary endpoints include the LnRHI during hospitalization and at six-month follow-up, the proportion of patients with endothelial dysfunction (LnRHI ≤ 0.51), and the incidence of thrombotic events, cardiovascular complications, and mortality during the follow-up period. The study included 23 COVID-19 patients and 22 COVID-19-negative, matched controls. The patients exhibited a significant reduction in the LnRHI at two months post-discharge compared to the controls (median = 0.55 [IQR: 0.49–0.68] vs. median = 0.70 [IQR: 0.62–0.83]; p = 0.012). The difference in the LnRHI between patients and controls was evident from hospitalization and persisted at two and six months without significant temporal changes. The proportion of COVID-19 patients with endothelial dysfunction (LnRHI ≤ 0.51) was 61% during hospitalization and 55% at six months. There was no significant difference in thrombotic or cardiovascular events, nor in mortality. This study demonstrates that COVID-19 adversely affects endothelial function, as evidenced by a reduction in the hyperemic vascular response index, and endothelial dysfunction may also persist.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
20751729
Volume :
14
Issue :
11
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Life
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.7c2d4a45dc854aa4a49741208d09fd81
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/life14111512