Streamlining the investigative process – early investigation for thromboembolic and cardiovascular disease in COVID-19 patients

Early studies regarding COVID-19 have shown increased propensity for thromboembolic¹ and cardiovascular² disease. Prompt identification and treatment may reduce mortality. This project aimed to identify factors that would highlight which patients would benefit from an early computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) and echocardiography to help prioritise resources.

COVID-19-positive patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) at a 430-bed general hospital from March–May 2020 were reviewed and patients with a positive CTPA or echocardiography were identified. Patient characteristics and biochemistry were analysed to help differentiate patients with positive findings.

67 COVID-19-positive patients were admitted to ICU. 32 patients underwent CTPA imaging and 32 had transthoracic echocardiographies. The positive detection rate was 47% and 50%, respectively. Biochemistry results for patients with positive imaging are shown in Table 1.

75% and 60% of patients who died did not undergo CTPA or echocardiography, respectively.

Identifying patients who benefit from CTPA and echocardiography is complex; however, D-dimer and troponin correlate with positive CTPA results (Table 1). The significant proportion of positive findings highlights the importance for high clinical suspicion for thromboembolic and cardiovascular disease.

Conflicts of interest

None declared.