The relationship between cardiac injury, inflammation and coagulation in predicting COVID-19 outcome

Sci Rep. 2021 Mar 22;11(1):6515. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-85646-z.

Abstract

High sensitivity troponin T (hsTnT) is a strong predictor of adverse outcome during SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, its determinants remain partially unknown. We aimed to assess the relationship between severity of inflammatory response/coagulation abnormalities and hsTnT in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). We then explored the relevance of these pathways in defining mortality and complications risk and the potential effects of the treatments to attenuate such risk. In this single-center, prospective, observational study we enrolled 266 consecutive patients hospitalized for SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. Primary endpoint was in-hospital COVID-19 mortality. hsTnT, even after adjustment for confounders, was associated with mortality. D-dimer and CRP presented stronger associations with hsTnT than PaO2. Changes of hsTnT, D-dimer and CRP were related; but only D-dimer was associated with mortality. Moreover, low molecular weight heparin showed attenuation of the mortality in the whole population, particularly in subjects with higher hsTnT. D-dimer possessed a strong relationship with hsTnT and mortality. Anticoagulation treatment showed greater benefits with regard to mortality. These findings suggest a major role of SARS-CoV-2 coagulopathy in hsTnT elevation and its related mortality in COVID-19. A better understanding of the mechanisms related to COVID-19 might pave the way to therapy tailoring in these high-risk individuals.

MeSH terms

  • Blood Coagulation Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Blood Coagulation Disorders / drug therapy
  • Blood Coagulation Disorders / etiology
  • C-Reactive Protein / analysis
  • COVID-19 / complications
  • COVID-19 / mortality
  • COVID-19 / pathology*
  • COVID-19 / virology
  • Female
  • Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / analysis
  • Heart Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Heart Diseases / etiology
  • Hemodynamics
  • Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / therapeutic use
  • Hospital Mortality
  • Humans
  • Inflammation
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis
  • Prospective Studies
  • Risk
  • SARS-CoV-2 / isolation & purification
  • Troponin T / blood

Substances

  • Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products
  • Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight
  • Troponin T
  • fibrin fragment D
  • C-Reactive Protein