Acute cardiac injury in patients with COVID-19

Andrea De Lorenzo; Daniel Ab Kasal; Bernardo R Tura; Cristiane C Lamas; Helena Cv Rey

Acute cardiac injury in patients with COVID-19

Am J Cardiovasc Dis. 2020 Jun 15;10(2):28-33. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Andrea De Lorenzo¹, Daniel Ab Kasal¹, Bernardo R Tura¹, Cristiane C Lamas¹, Helena Cv Rey¹

Affiliation

¹ Instituto Nacional de Cardiologia, Research and Teaching Department Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.

PMID: 32685261
PMCID: PMC7364273

Abstract

Introduction: Cardiac complications of COVID-19 are potentially life-threatening. The occurrence of myocardial injury in the context of COVID-19 is multifactorial and has generated increasing interest.

Methods: A systematic review with a meta-analysis of the literature was performed. MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched. Two independent reviewers evaluated the selected manuscripts for the outcome "myocardial injury", defined by troponin elevation above the 99th percentile. The study heterogeneity and risk of bias were evaluated.

Results: Eight studies, with a total of 1,229 patients, were included. The frequency of myocardial injury was 16% (95% CI: 9%-27%). The heterogeneity among the studies was high (93%).

Conclusions: Myocardial injury may occur in patients with COVID-19, with a frequency of 16% according to current studies. Continuous research is needed to update these findings as the pandemic evolves and to define the implications of myocardial injury in the context of this infection.

Keywords: COVID-19; acute myocardial infarction; myocardial injury; myocarditis; troponin.

Publication types

Review