Risk assessment of cardiovascular complications in patients treated for SARS-CoV-2 in the observation in infectious disease department

Abstract

Aim: Assessment of the risk of pulmonary embolism and myocardial dysfunction based on the measured levels of d-dimer and troponin-T in patients treated in the hospital for COVID-19. Material and methods: The study included a 3-year retrospective analysis of medical records of patients treated at the Independent Public Healthcare Institution. The authors compared the 12 months preceding the epidemic treating this group of patients (without COVID-19) as a control (comparative), and the 24 months of the epidemic in Poland (patients with COVID-19 infection). Results: Statistically significant differences in d-dimer concentrations before and during the pandemic were found (2.150 ± 3.892 vs. 4.990 ± 15.244 vs. 5.032 ± 13.426 μg/ml; P = 0.046). However, there were no statistically significant differences before and during the pandemic in troponin T concentrations (0.027 ± 0.049 vs. 0.032 ± 0.082 vs. 0.034 ± 0.121 ng/mL; P = 0.718). Comparing the periods of the pandemic and the time before the pandemic, the length of the hospitalization period was statistically significantly extended (8 ± 4 vs. 10 ± 7 vs. 12 ± 7 days; P<0.001). Conclusions: Diagnostics consisting in monitoring the level of d-dimer in patients with COVID-19 allows to reduce the risk of complications, including hospital death. Determining the level of d-dimer and troponin-T allows for the implementation of appropriate treatment in patients with COVID-19. Testing the level of d-dimer is important in making clinical decisions against the risk of flordembolism in adult COVID-19 patients.