Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Presently, numerous studies have demonstrated that long-term cardiovascular changes after Coronavirus Disease 2019(COVID-19) infection should be considered. The study was aimed to explore the risk factors for post COVID-19 long-term cardiovascular symptoms. METHODS: This retrospective observational cross-sectional study involved 204 COVID-19 patients who were admitted to Yantaishan Hospital from January 1, 2023 to January 31, 2023. Demographic and laboratory data were collected and compared between patients who experienced post COVID-19 long-term cardiovascular symptoms and those who did not. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors associated with the occurrence of post COVID-19 long-term cardiovascular symptoms. RESULTS: Fifty-two participants presented Post COVID-19 cardiovascular symptoms, while the remaining 152 individuals did not show any such symptoms including chest pain, chest tightness, shortness of breath, palpitations, dyspnea, exercise intolerance, and postural tachycardia syndrome. In comparison to the group without post COVID-19 long-term cardiovascular symptoms, the group with post COVID-19 long-term cardiovascular symptoms exhibited a significantly higher prevalence of anxiety and depression (25.0% vs. 4.6%, p = 0.000), as well as significantly elevated C-reactive protein (42.3 mg/L vs. 20.3 mg/L, p = 0.014) and D-dimer (0.3 mg/L vs. 0.22 mg/L, p = 0.024). Anxiety and depression (odds ratio [OR] = 6.403, 95% confidence interval [CI]:2.180-18.809, p = 0.001), C-reactive protein (OR = 1.009, 95%CI:1.003-1.015, p = 0.006), D-dimer (OR = 1.455, 95%CI:1.004-2.109, p = 0.048), and LDL-C (OR = 1.780, 95%CI:1.043-3.040, p = 0.035) were identified as independent risk factors for post COVID-19 long-term cardiovascular symptoms. CONCLUSION: Anxiety and depression, C-reactive protein, D-dimer, and LDL-C levels are associated with the development of post COVID-19 long-term cardiovascular symptoms.