The Impact of Pulmonary Hypertension on Functional and Morphological Parameters of Heart Function in COVID-19

The objective of the study : to evaluate functional and morphological parameters of cardiac function in patients with pulmonary hypertension and COVID-19. Subjects : The study included 53 patients of both genders with community-acquired multisegmental viral-bacterial pneumonia and COVID-19 who were treated in intensive care units. Patients were divided into three groups according to mean pulmonary artery pressure (mean PAP): in Group 1, mean PAP was < 25 mm Hg, in Group 2, mean PAP was 25-40 mm Hg, and in Group 3, mean PAP was ≥ 40 mm Hg. Results . Patients with COVID-19 and mean PAP > 40 mm Hg were found to have higher values of left and right atrial volume, myocardial thickness, heart rate, and mortality. However, they had lower values of arterial stroke pressure index, arterial compliance, specific peripheral resistance, and lower precapillary response. Conclusion . The severe course of COVID-19 is associated with severe pulmonary hypertension developed during extensive pneumonia combined with concomitant pathology. At the same time, impaired hemodynamics and altered sizes of heart chambers are observed in such patients.