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. 2023 Mar 13;15(3):e36093.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.36093. eCollection 2023 Mar.

Characteristics of Cardiac Abnormalities in Pediatric Patients With Acute COVID-19

Daniel Pasternack  1   2 , Rakesh K Singh  1   2 , Prashant K Minocha  1   2 , Jon S Farkas  3   2 , Prema Ramaswamy  4 , Donna Better  5   6 , Sourabh Verma  7   2 , Colin K Phoon  1   2
Affiliations

Characteristics of Cardiac Abnormalities in Pediatric Patients With Acute COVID-19

Daniel Pasternack et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Introduction Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is known to cause cardiac abnormalities in adults. Cardiac abnormalities are well-described in multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, but effects in children with acute COVID-19 are less understood. In this multicenter study, we assessed the cardiac effects of acute COVID-19 among hospitalized children (<21 years) admitted to three large healthcare systems in New York City. Methods We performed a retrospective observational study. We examined electrocardiograms, echocardiograms, troponin, or B-type natriuretic peptides. Results Of 317 admitted patients, 131 (41%) underwent cardiac testing with 56 (43%) demonstrating cardiac abnormalities. Electrocardiogram abnormalities were the most common (46/117 patients (39%)), including repolarization abnormalities and QT prolongation. Elevated troponin occurred in 14/77 (18%) patients and B-type natriuretic peptide in 8/39 (21%) patients. Ventricular dysfunction was identified in 5/27 (19%) patients with an echocardiogram, all of whom had elevated troponin. Ventricular dysfunction resolved by first outpatient follow-up. Conclusion Electrocardiogram and troponin can assist clinicians in identifying children at risk for cardiac injury in acute COVID-19.

Keywords: covid-19; electrocardiogram; myocarditis; pediatrics; ventricular dysfunction.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Study cohort
SARS-CoV-2: severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, MIS-C: multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, COVID-19: coronavirus disease 2019
Figure 2
Figure 2. Patterns in cardiac injury and screening over time
Figure 3
Figure 3. Difference in serum troponin on admission between patients with and without ventricular dysfunction by echocardiogram
LV: left ventricular
Figure 4
Figure 4. Electrocardiograms of patients with ventricular dysfunction
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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