Factors influencing the evolution of pulmonary hypertension in previously healthy subjects recovering from a SARS-CoV-2 infection
Description
Abstract: (1) Background: While the COVID-19 pandemic is persisting for almost 2 years, more and more people are diagnosed with residual complications such as pulmonary hypertension (PH) and right ventricular dysfunction (RVD). This study aims to evaluate the course of PH and borderline PH (BPH) at 3 and 6 months after the acute COVID-19 infection and to research if there are differences regarding its evolution, between the patients from the first 3 waves of this disease. (2) Methods: We analyzed, by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), the 3 and 6 months’ evolution of the estimated pulmonary artery pressures (sPAP) in 116 patients already diagnosed with PH or BPH due to COVID-19, during the first three subsequent waves of COVID-19. (3) Results: We documented a gradual, statistically significant reduction of SPAP values, but also an improvement of the parameters characterizing RVD after 3 and 6 months (p˂0.001). This evolution was somewhat different between subjects infected with different viral strains and was related to the initial severity of the pulmonary injury and PH (adjusted R2=0.722, p˂0.001). (4) Conclusions: PH and RVD alleviate gradually during the recovery after COVID-19, but in some cases, they persist, suggesting the activation of pathophysiological mechanisms responsible for the self-propagation of PH. "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara.