Assessment of Arterial Stiffness in Patients Recovered from Mild COVID-19 Disease using Pulse Wave Velocity: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) may manifest with different grades, such as mild, moderate, or severe. COVID-19 has many post-viral implications on different organ systems, including the vascular system. As the pandemic load increases, it is vital to identify any post-recovery complications and functional impairments of the arteries in patients who have recovered from mild COVID-19 disease. Aim: Present study aimed to evaluate the functional impairment of the arteries, specifically arterial stiffness, in patients recovered from mild COVID-19 disease by assessing Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV). Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted at Shri BM Patil Medical College and Research Centre, BLDE (Deemed to be University), Vijayapura, Karnataka, India, from April 2021 to June 2021. A total of 18 patients who had recovered from mild COVID-19 disease (Group 1: n=18) and age- and sex-matched healthy participants (Group 2: n=18) accessing health services at the hospital were included in the study. Data were collected for physiological parameters such as height, weight, Body Mass Index (BMI), Pulse Rate (PR), Blood Pressure (BP), and arterial stiffness parameters like PWV. The data were statistically analysed using the Mann-Whitney U test and Spearman’s correlation. Results: The study included 36 participants aged between 18 and 65 years. In the present study, patients recovered from mild COVID-19 disease showed a statistically significant increase in brachial-ankle Pulse Wave Velocity (b-a PWV) (p=0.001) and carotid-femoral Pulse Wave Velocity (c-f PWV) (p<0.01) compared to the controls and positively correlated with Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP). Conclusion: The present study concluded that even a mild degree of COVID-19 enhanced PWV, reflecting an increase in arterial stiffness. This study may assist clinicians in follow-up visits and rehabilitation to reduce the burden of the disease.