Clinical and Anamnestic Characteristics of Acute Coronary Syndrome after Suffering COVID-19
- Authors: Orlova N.V.1, Lomajchikov V.V.1, Bonkalo T..2, Chuvarayan G.A.1, Spiryakina Y.G.1, Petrenko A.P.1, Pinchuk T.V.1
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Affiliations:
- Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University
- Research Institute for Healthcare Organization and Medical Management
- Issue: Vol 76, No 5S (2021)
- Pages: 533-538
- Section: CARDIOLOGY AND CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY: CURRENT ISSUES
- Published: 04.12.2021
- URL: https://vestnikramn.spr-journal.ru/jour/article/view/1612
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.15690/vramn1612
- ID: 1612
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Abstract
Background. COVID-19 increases the risk of developing thromboembolic complications, including acute myocardial infarction, in the acute period of the disease. The long-term consequences of COVID-19 are poorly understood. At the same time, the available data on an increased risk of acute coronary syndrome after infectious diseases allow us to make an assumption about a similar risk in COVID-19. The aim of the study was to study the anamnestic and laboratory diagnostic data in patients with acute coronary syndrome after COVID-19. Methods. The study included 185 patients with acute coronary syndrome who were admitted to the State Clinical Hospital No. 13 in Moscow in the period from May to December 2020. 2 groups were identified: group 1 — 109 patients with ACS who had previously suffered COVID-19, group 2 — 76 patients with ACS without COVID-19 in the past. The patients were collected anamnesis, including: the fact of smoking and alcohol consumption, heredity, previous diseases, including diabetes mellitus, acute myocardial infarction, previously performed PCI. Information about the COVID-19 infection has been collected (the duration of the disease, the course of the disease). A clinical and laboratory examination was conducted, including the determination of body mass index (BMI), examination for antibodies to COVID-19, determination of the lipid profile level (total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides), blood glucose level, C-RB. The analysis was performed on automatic biochemical analyzers Hitachi-902, 912 (Roche Diagnostics, Japan). All patients underwent coronary angiography. Results. In patients with ACS with previously transferred COVID-19, the development of the disease occurred at a younger age compared to patients without transferred COVID-19. Among the patients with COVID-19, body weight was significantly lower, there were fewer smokers, concomitant type 2 diabetes mellitus and transferred ONMC were less common. In laboratory parameters, lower triglyceride levels were observed in patients with ACS with COVID-19 compared with those of patients without COVID-19. In the laboratory parameters of blood clotting in patients with ACS with COVID-19, higher APTT, thrombin time, fibrinogen level, D-dimer were noted. The indicated laboratory parameters in the groups had statistically significant differences. In ACS patients with a previous COVID-19, compared with patients without COVID-19, the lesion of 2 or more coronary vessels was more common in the anamnesis. Conclusion. According to the results of our study, it was revealed that multivessel coronary artery damage in patients after COVID-19 in comparison with patients without COVID-19 develops significantly more often, while these patients are significantly less likely to have DM and previously suffered ONMC, the level of TG is significantly lower.
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Justification
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected millions of people around the world and caused many deaths. Moreover, 40% of deaths from COVID-19 are caused by complications from the cardiovascular system [1]. It becomes obvious that, along with the respiratory organs, COVID-19 affects the cardiovascular system [2, 3, 4]. Among the cardiovascular complications of COVID-19, pulmonary embolism (PE), cardiac arrhythmias, myocarditis, pericarditis, and cardiovascular failure are identified [3]. Musher DM et al. described an increased risk of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in patients with COVID-19 [6].
In previous studies, an association of the development of acute coronary syndrome with previous infectious diseases was revealed. Elevated titers of antibodies to C. pneumoniae and cytomegalovirus have been identified as independent risk factors for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) [6, 7]. The relationship between the development of AMI and acute cerebrovascular accident (ACVA) with a previous respiratory infection is known: influenza, parainfluenza, rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus. The strongest association is found in patients over 65 years of age [8]. Based on the results of 10 studies, a twofold increase in the risk of developing AMI after suffering from influenza was revealed [9]. The risk of AMI in patients with influenza was noted not only during the acute period of the disease, but also within 1 year after recovery [10]. ClaytonT et al. consider that patients are at the greatest risk of AMI in the first 5-10 days after influenza A and B [11]. Analysis of the incidence of AMI after an influenza epidemic showed that the risk of acute coronary events persists in patients for several months [12, 13]. In the pathogenesis of the development of ACS, researchers noted an increase in the activity of intravascular inflammation against the background of influenza, which was accompanied by the destabilization of the atherosclerotic plaque [14, 15]. Another mechanism for increasing the risk of developing ACS against the background of a respiratory infection is an increase in blood coagulation activity with an increase in thrombus formation [16].
Stefanini GG et al. based on the results of a clinical study, it was concluded that SARS-CoV-2 infection not only contributes to the development of ACS, but in some cases COVID-19 can manifest with ST elevation AMI [17]. Currently, there are few data in the literature on the level of risk of developing ACS after suffering COVID-19.
Methods
Study design
The study included 185 patients with acute coronary syndrome. According to the history of the presence of a previous coronavirus infection, the patients were divided into 2 groups: group 1 - 109 patients with ACS who had previously undergone COVID-19, group 2 - 76 patients with ACS without previous coronavirus infection. In the course of the study, a comparative assessment of the history, clinical course of ACS, data of laboratory and instrumental examination methods was carried out.
Compliance criteria
Inclusion criteria: presence of ACS. The study did not include patients with COVID-19 at the time of admission (positive PCR test), viral myocarditis, systemic diseases, antiphospholipid syndrome, cancer and hematological diseases.
Conditions of conducting
The study was carried out in the cardiology department and the cardiac intensive care unit of the City Clinical Hospital No. 13 of the city of Moscow.
Study duration
The study included patients with ACS who were admitted to the hospital between May and December 2020.
Description of the medical intervention
The patients underwent anamnesis collection, including: the fact of smoking and drinking alcohol, heredity, past diseases, incl. diabetes mellitus, acute myocardial infarction, previously performed PCI. Information about the previous COVID-19 infection was collected (the duration of the disease, the course of the disease). A clinical and laboratory examination was carried out, including the determination of body mass index (BMI), examination for antibodies to COVID-19, determination of the level of lipid profile (total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides), blood glucose, C-RB. The analysis was performed on automatic biochemical analyzers Hitachi-902, 912 (Roche Diagnostics, Japan). Conducted electrocardiography, ECHO - cardiography ("Acuson", USA). All patients underwent coronary angiography (CAG) as part of the examination for acute coronary syndrome. Based on the performed CAG, ACS was confirmed and another mechanism of pain syndrome, laboratory changes, changes in ECG and ECHO of CG was excluded, incl. viral myocarditis. Coronary angiography was used to assess atherosclerotic lesions of the coronary arteries. The number of coronary arteries with stenosis of more than 50% was taken into account.
Ethical review
The ethical examination of the study was carried out at the Federal State Autonomous Educational Institution of Higher Education. N.I. Pirogov, Ministry of Health of Russia. The study was carried out in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.
Statistical analysis
The obtained data were processed on a personal computer based on Intel Celeron in the Microsoft Excel software environment using the built-in "Analysis Package", which is specially designed for solving statistical problems. Comparison of average indicators was performed using standard methods of variation statistics of a biomedical profile.
results
The patients included in the study suffered from COVID-19 on average 2-3 months before the development of ACS. Comparison of the anamnesis data and the results of clinical examination revealed that in patients with ACS with previous COVID-19, the development of the disease occurred at a younger age in comparison with patients without COVID-19, there were fewer smokers among patients with COVID-19, and was lower body mass index (BMI), concomitant type 2 diabetes mellitus was significantly less common, earlier AMI, stroke, and previous PCI were less common (Table 1).
Table 1. Anamnesis data and results of anthropological research
Groups Indicators | Group 1 (n=109) | Group 2 (n=76) | p |
Average age, years | 0,1 | ||
Previous AMI,% | 35,8 | 41,2 | 0,12 |
Previous PCI, % | 90,8 | 91,4 | 0,14 |
ONMK, % | 35,8 | 41,2 | 0,047 |
History of diabetes,% | 21,8 | 35,3 | 0,045 |
Body mass (kg) | 0,04 | ||
Height (cm) | 0,1 | ||
BMI (kg / m²) | 0,2 | ||
Smoking (%) | 18,3 | 24,8 | 0,2 |
In laboratory parameters, patients with ACS with previous COVID-19 showed lower levels of serum glucose, total cholesterol, LDL, VLDL, triglycerides in comparison with those of patients without COVID-19. Differences in triglyceride levels were significantly significant (Table 2). The CRP level was higher in ACS patients without previous COVID-19.
Table 2. Laboratory indicators in 2 groups
Groups Indicators | Groups 1 (n=109) | Groups 2 (n=76) | p |
Serum glucose blood (mmol / l) | 0,22 | ||
TOC (mmol / l) | 0,51 | ||
TG (mmol / l) | 0,045 | ||
HDL (mmol / l) | 0,51 | ||
LDL (mmol / l) | 0,5 | ||
LDLP (mmol / l) | 0,6 | ||
CRP | 0,03 |
The study of the results of the performed CAG revealed that in patients with ACS without previous COVID-19, in half of the cases, there is a single-vessel lesion of the coronary arteries. ACS patients with previous COVID-19 compared with patients without a history of COVID-19 are more likely to have lesions of 2 or more coronary vessels (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Damage to coronary vessels according to coronary angiography
Discussion
Until now, there is little information about the development of ACS in patients with COVID-19. At the same time, based on the data on the high risk of thromboembolic complications in patients with COVID-19, scientists consider the likelihood of an increased risk of AMI both in the acute and postcoid periods [3, 18]. A significant increase in the risk of ACS in patients with COVID-19 is indicated in their work by Kochi AN et al. [nineteen]. The authors found that the severity of the course of COVID-19 also affects the risk of developing AMI [5].
It is known that patients with COVID-19 have an increased risk of arterial thrombosis: AMI, stroke, peripheral arterial thrombosis. An increase in the incidence of strokes was noted at a relatively young age - up to 50 years [20]. In patients with COVID-19, an increase in the risk of an unfavorable outcome of ischemic stroke was revealed [21]. Hamadeh A, et al. also indicate an increased risk of a poor prognosis of AMI in the presence of COVID-19. The authors note the difficulties in diagnosing ACS: low specificity of symptoms and diagnostic parameters, incl. ECG and troponin levels [22].
Considering the pathogenesis of the development of acute coronary events in patients with COVID-19, researchers note the presence of risk factors for AMI type 1 and 2. Scientists have identified the ability of the SARS-CoV-2 virus to cause inflammatory reactions in the vascular endothelium. This can contribute to intravascular thrombosis as well as destabilize atherosclerotic plaques. The consequence of these processes is an increased risk of developing acute coronary syndrome [23, 24]. The development of AMI type 2 is predisposed by the presence of hypoxemia, hypotension, tachycardia and fever in patients with COVID-19, which leads to oxygen deficiency in cardiomyocytes [3, 25, 26].
In our study, we found that COVID-19 is an independent risk factor for the development of ACS. The results obtained agree with the data of other researchers. Belanis P et al. studied the risk factors for the development of stroke in patients with COVID-19. It was found that in the presence of traditional CVD risk factors, SARS-CoV-2 infection is an independent risk factor and significantly increases the risk of stroke [27].
In a study by J.Y. Xiao et al, evaluated the effect of CVD risk factors on the degree of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. In a study that included 1729 patients, an association of the severity of coronary sclerosis with gender, age, arterial hypertension, and impaired lipid and carbohydrate metabolism was revealed [28]. The risk of developing ACS and multivessel coronary artery disease was also influenced by smoking [29]. The results of our study indicate that COVID-19 significantly affects the severity of coronary artery disease regardless of the presence of traditional CVD risk factors: type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, etc.
Conclusion
Based on the results of the study, it can be concluded that the transferred COVID-19 disease increases the risk of multivessel coronary artery disease and the development of acute coronary syndrome, regardless of the presence of risk factors for cardiovascular complications: obesity, smoking, age, type 2 diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia.
Conclusion. COVID-19 is an acute respiratory viral disease with cardiovascular complications. Damage to the cardiovascular system is possible not only in the acute period of the disease, but also in the postcoid period. The results of the study indicate the impact of COVID-19 on the risk of developing ACS in patients who have undergone a viral infection, regardless of whether patients have traditional risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Past infection with SARS-CoV-2 affects atherogenesis, thrombogenesis and contributes to multivessel coronary artery disease. Further study of the impact of COVID-19 on the development and course of ACS will determine the duration and scope of preventive and rehabilitation measures.
About the authors
Natalia V. Orlova
Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University
Email: vrach315@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-4293-3285
SPIN-code: 8775-1299
MD, PhD, Professor
Россия, 1 Ostrovityanova str., 117997, MoscowValerij V. Lomajchikov
Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University
Email: lomaychikov@yandex.ru
Assistant
Россия, 1, Ostrovityanova str., 117997, MoscowTatyana I. Bonkalo
Research Institute for Healthcare Organization and Medical Management
Email: bonkalotatyanaivanovna@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-0887-4995
SPIN-code: 6572-7417
MD, PhD in Psychology, Professor
Россия, MoscowGrigorij A. Chuvarayan
Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University
Email: grigoriy.chuvarayan@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-4503-6280
MD, PhD, Assistant Professor
Россия, 1, Ostrovityanova str., 117997, MoscowYana G. Spiryakina
Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University
Email: janezo@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-1006-4118
SPIN-code: 5620-6667
MD, PhD, Assistant Professor
Россия, 1, Ostrovityanova str., 117997, MoscowAnna P. Petrenko
Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University
Email: petrenkoAnna5@yandex.ru
Clinical Resident
Россия, 1, Ostrovityanova str., 117997, MoscowTatyana V. Pinchuk
Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University
Author for correspondence.
Email: doktor2000@inbox.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-7877-4407
SPIN-code: 1940-2017
MD, PhD, Assistant Professor
Россия, 1, Ostrovityanova str., 117997, MoscowReferences
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