Value of transthoracic echocardiography in predicting short term major adverse cardiac events after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction in COVID 19 Era

Abstract

AMI remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In the era of COVID 19, early risk stratification and identification of high-risk patients with STEMI are of great significance in prognosis, and in guiding diagnosis and treatment decisions. Measuring left ventricular peak systolic global longitudinal strain may be a useful addition to ejection fraction using echocardiography. This study included 97 patients who presented with acute STEMI within 12 hours of onset of chest pain and managed by primary percutaneous coronary intervention, it was performed in Ain Shams University Hospitals from January 2021 to June 2021. Echocardiography was used to measure ejection fraction and left ventricular strain parameters. This represented 10% reduction in the rate of admission of STEMI during the Covid pandemic as compared to year2018 admission in the same center. The study included 97 patients, 55 % of which presented with anterior STEMI. Out of the whole group 29 patients (21%) developed MACE at 3 months follow up. Within the whole group, the mean ejection fraction was (44.04±6.07 % VS. 40.07±6.52 % p=0.007) and the mean global longitudinal strain was (-12.56±3.61 %VS -10.1±3.25 % p=0.002).