Evaluation of Pulmonary Arterial Stiffness in Mild COVID-19 Patients: A Pilot Prospective Study

Objectives Our primary goal was to utilize pulmonary arterial stiffness (PAS) to demonstrate the early alterations in the pulmonary vascular area in individuals with prior Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) illness who had not undergone hospitalization. Methods In total, 201 patients with prior COVID-19 infection without hospitalization and 195 healthy, age- and sex-matched individuals without a history of COVID-19 disease were included in this prospective analysis. The PAS value for each patient was calculated by dividing the mean peak pulmonary flow velocity by the pulmonary flow acceleration time. Results The measured PAS was 10.2 (4.11) (Hz/msn) in post-COVID-19 participants and 8.56 (1.47) (Hz/msn) in healthy subjects (p<0.001). Moreover, pulmonary artery acceleration time was significantly lower in patients with a prior history of COVID-19. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that PAS was significantly connected to a prior COVID-19 illness (OR: 1.267; 95%CI:1.142–1.434; p<0.001). The optimal cutoff point for detecting a prior COVID-19 disease for PAS was 10.1 (sensitivity = %70.2, specificity = %87.7). Conclusion This might be the first investigation to reveal that patients with a history of COVID-19 had higher PAS values compared to those without COVID-19. The results of the investigation may indicate the need of regular follow up of COVID-19 patients for the development of PAH, especially during the post-COVID-19 interval.