Patients With Mild COVID-19 Report More Cardiac Symptoms 3 to 6 Months After Diagnosis

Background: Acute cardiovascular complications including myocarditis, arrhythmias, and stroke are associated with severe COVID-19. Persistent cardiac symptoms have also been reported in many patients after mild COVID-19 infection. Imaging data are limited on patients after mild infection. Objective: To evaluate the relationship between imaging, symptoms, and clinical outcomes in patients recovered from mild COVID-19 compared to COVID-19 negative controls. Design: Single-center prospective study. Participants: 122 patients who underwent polymerase chain reaction testing for COVID-19 during a 17-month period. Methods: Patients underwent clinical assessment, cardiac MRI, and echocardiography at 3 to 6 months. Cardiac symptoms and outcomes were also noted at 12 to 18 months. Results: At 3 to 6 months, COVID-19–positive participants had at least 1 abnormality on echocardiography (20%) and cardiac MRI (44%). No significant difference was noted with controls who demonstrated an abnorm more...