COVID-19 causes coronary artery lesions and plaque ruptures in coronary artery disease patients
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Jul 16, 2024 3 months, 2 weeks, 5 hours, 24 minutes ago
COVID-19 News: In a groundbreaking study, researchers from several prestigious institutions in China have discovered crucial differences in the coronary artery lesions of heart disease patients who have contracted COVID-19. This
COVID-19 News report delves into the study's findings, highlighting the key impacts of COVID-19 on coronary artery disease (CAD) and what it means for patients and healthcare providers.
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COVID-19 causes coronary artery lesions and plaque ruptures in coronary artery disease patients
Research Institutions Involved
The study was a collaborative effort involving the Faculty of Graduate Studies at Chengde Medical University-China, the Department of Cardiology at TEDA International Cardiovascular Hospital, the Department of Cardiac Surgery & The Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases at Tianjin University-China, and the Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Regulation of Cardiovascular Diseases and Translational Medicine-China.
Study Background
COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, has been known to cause a variety of health complications, including those affecting the heart. Previous research has shown that COVID-19 patients are at a higher risk for cardiac injuries, which can manifest as elevated cardiac enzymes, arrhythmias, and heart failure. This new study aimed to explore whether COVID-19 infection influences the morphological features of coronary plaques, potentially affecting the outcomes for patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).
Study Design and Methodology
The study used optical coherence tomography (OCT) to examine the coronary plaques of CAD patients. The researchers divided 206 patients into two groups: 113 patients who had a history of COVID-19 infection and received OCT assessment after China lifted COVID-19 restrictions in December 2022, and 93 patients who underwent OCT before December 7, 2022, and had no history of COVID-19 infection.
Key Findings
The study revealed several significant differences between the two groups:
-Higher Incidence of Plaque Ruptures and Erosions: Patients in the COVID-19 group exhibited a higher incidence of plaque ruptures (53.1% vs. 38.7%) and erosions (28.3% vs. 11.8%) compared to the non-COVID-19 group.
-Increased Fibrous and Diffuse Lesions: The COVID-19 group also had more fibrous (96.5% vs. 89.2%) and diffuse lesions (73.5% vs. 50.5%).
-Less Frequent Cholesterol Crystals and Deep Calcifications: Conversely, the non-COVID-19 group showed a higher frequency of cholesterol crystals (83.9% vs. 70.8%) and deep calcifications (65.6% vs. 51.3%).
-Survival Analysis: Kaplan-Meier survival analysis indicated a significantly lower major adverse cardiac events (MACE)-free probability in the COVID-19 group (91.6% vs. 95.5%).
Clinical Implications
These findings suggest that COVID-19 infection is associated with more severe coronary pathological changes. The increased incidence of plaque ruptures, erosions, and fibrous and diffuse lesions in COVID-19 patients indicates a higher propensity for acute coronary events. This means that CAD patients who have had COVID-19 are at a greater risk of experiencing significant cardiac complications.
Study Details and Patient Characteristics
The patients included in this study ranged in age from 24 to 79 years, with a mean age of 60 years. Both the COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 groups were similar in terms of age, gender ratio, body mass index, and the prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and smoking. Notably, none of the patients had a history of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), and fewer patients in the COVID-19 group had prior myocardial infarctions.
Future Directions
The study's authors suggest that these findings highlight the need for heightened vigilance and tailored treatment strategies for CAD patients who have contracted COVID-19. Further research is required to understand the long-term cardiovascular impacts of COVID-19 and to develop interventions that can mitigate these risks.
Conclusion
This study is the first systematic review of OCT characteristics of coronary lesions in CAD patients following COVID-19 infection. The use of OCT allowed the researchers to reveal critical insights into how COVID-19 affects coronary plaques, providing valuable information for the medical community.
The study findings were published in the peer-reviewed American Journal of Cardiology.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0002914924005149
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