Assessment of cardiac adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination by speckle tracking echocardiography

Srisakul Chaichuum, Ching Li Tseng, Su Chen Chang, Chih Lin Chan, Chu Ying Hsu, Edward Chiang, Masao Daimon, Shuo Ju Chiang, Hsiang Ho Chen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Cardiac discomfort has been reported periodically in COVID-19-vaccinated individuals. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the role of myocardial strains in the early assessment of the clinical presentations after COVID-19 vaccination. Totally, 121 subjects who received at least one dose of vaccine within 6 weeks underwent laboratory tests, electrocardiogram (ECG), and echocardiogram. Two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) was implemented to analyze changes in the left ventricular myocardium. After vaccination, 66 individuals (55.4 ± 17.4 years) developed cardiac discomforts, such as chest tightness, palpitations, dyspnea, and chest pain. The ECG readings exhibited both premature ventricular contractions and premature atrial contractions (n = 24, 36.4%), while none of the individuals in the control group manifested signs of cardiac arrhythmia. All had normal serum levels of creatine phosphokinase, creatine kinase myocardial band, troponin, N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide, platelets, and D-dimer. Left ventricular ejection fraction in the symptomatic group (71.41% ± 7.12%) and the control group (72.18% ± 5.11%) (p = 0.492) were normal. Use of 2D-STE presented global longitudinal strain (GLS) and global circumferential strain (GCS) was reduced in the symptomatic group (17.86% ± 3.22% and 18.37% ± 5.22%) compared to the control group (19.54% ± 2.18% and 20.73% ± 4.09%) (p = 0.001 and p = 0.028). COVID-19 vaccine-related cardiac adverse effects can be assessed early by 2D-STE. The prognostic implications of GLS and GCS enable the evaluation of subtle changes in myocardial function after vaccination.

Original languageEnglish
Article number10849
JournalScientific Reports
Volume14
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2024

Keywords

  • Cardiac-related adverse event
  • COVID-19 vaccine
  • Myocardial strains
  • Subclinical myocardial dysfunction
  • Tissue speckle tracking

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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