The relationship between arterial stiffness and disease severity in patients with COVID-19

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: It is known that COVID-19 infection causes cardiovascular complications. It is thought that this may be related to endothelial dysfunction. The aim of this study is to reveal the relationship between arterial stiffness, which may be an indicator of endothelial dysfunction, and disease severity. Method(s) Patients with COVID-19 infection and age, sex and cardiac risk factors matched control group were included in the study. Arterial stiffness was measured in the early period (within the first month) of COVID-19 infection. Echocardiographic measurements were also performed at the same time. The patients were divided into two groups according to the severity of covid, as mild and severe. In order to determine the severity of the disease, oxygen or intensive care need, biochemical parameters such as C-reactive protein (CRP), hs-troponin, complete blood count (CBC) were used in line with the recommendations. Arterial stiffness measurements were made by the gold standard applanation tonometry method, from the radial, carotid and femoral arteries. Result(s) A total of 84 patients were included in the study, 27 of which were in the control, 32 in the mild disease and 25 in the severe disease groups. The mean age of the population was 48.6+/-12.9 years, and 69% (n=58) were male. The whole group had 30% hypertension (HT), 10% Diabetes Mellitus (DM), 11% coronary artery disease (CAD), 11% were smoking and 2% with hyperlipidemia (HL). There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of these risk factors. The mean pulse wave velocity (PWV) value obtained in arterial stiffness measurements was 8.02, 8.07 and 8.75 in the control group, mild disease group and severe disease group, respectively. These values were found to be statistically significant when the control group and mild disease groups were compared with the severe disease group. (p=0.007, p=0.008, respectively). Conclusion(s) The results of this study revealed that the deterioration in arterial stiffnes, which is a good indicator of endothelial dysfunction, is more significant in patients with severe COVID-19 infection. These patients should be followed more closely for subsequent cardiovascular complications.