Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Recently published research works have concluded that Covid-19 infection will result in endothelial dysfunction or worsen it, especially when associated with comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus. Arterial Stiffness is a manifestation of endothelial dysfunction and it can be used as a prediction parameter as well as a target for therapies aimed at ameliorating endothelial cell dysfunction.

Aims and Objectives: To compare arterial stiffness using carotid-femoral Pulse Wave Velocity (cf-PWV) between subjects with Covid-19 and controls without history of Covid-19. Further cases and controls were further subdivided into those with or without comorbidities such as Diabetes Mellitus, Systemic Hypertension, Chronic Kidney Disease, Coronary Artery Disease & Stroke.

Methodology: This study was designed as an observational, single centre, cross sectional study to be done amongst police personnel from Telangana State Police Force, India by randomly selecting subjects who were willing to give written informed consent, after excluding subjects with chronic inflammatory diseases on chronic steroid therapy and pregnant/lactating subjects. Subjects were further divided into 4 groups. Group A did not have any history of Covid-19 or comorbidities, Group B had history of prior Covid-19 infection but no previous history of comorbidities, Group C had history of comorbidities but no previous history of Covid -19 and Group D had history of prior Covid-19 infection as well as comorbidities. Arterial stiffness was measured indirectly by measuring carotid femoral-Pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV) with a clinically validated device known as PeriScope® [Genesis Medical Systems, India].

Results: Analysis of 170 age-matched (35years to 58 years) subjects was done using GraphPad PRISM software. The mean increase in cf-PWV was 76.2 cm/s in Group-A, 126.5 cm/s in Group-B, 210.1 cm/s in Group-C & 263.9 cm/s in Group-D. Significant p-values were obtained for the differences in the increase in cf-PWV between the 4 different groups. The Arterial stiffness values of prior Covid-19 positive subjects were found to be higher than the group of subjects without prior Covid-19. The group with comorbidities without Covid-19 had a higher increase in arterial stiffness levels compared to subjects with prior Covid-19 but without other comorbidities. Subjects with history of both Covid-19 as well as comorbidities had the highest levels of arterial stiffness.

Conclusion: Arterial Stiffness levels are elevated significantly after Covid-19 infection and is an indicator of increased cardiovascular risk. Carotid Femoral Pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV) can be considered as an easy non-invasive screening tool in post-COVID patients to identify possible high-risk candidates in day-to-day practice.