# Cardiac risk in recovered Covid-19 patients evaluated by 123I-mIBG

## TL;DR

This study found that many recovered COVID-19 patients had long-lasting cardiac sympathetic nervous system issues, as shown by imaging with 123I-mIBG.

## Contribution

The study provides new evidence of persistent cardiac sympathetic dysfunction in recovered COVID-19 patients over a long follow-up period.

## Key findings

- 67.7% of patients showed increased cardiac sympathetic activity at baseline.
- 70.4% of patients still had abnormalities 6–8 months later.
- 9 patients had persistently abnormal HMRs 12–15 months post-diagnosis.

## Abstract

To determine whether cardiac sympathetic nervous dysfunction is present, in this single center prospective, non-randomized trial non-invasive SPECT/CT imaging using the radiotracer 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine was performed in 33 recovered COVID-19 patients without pre-existing cardiac conditions. Increased cardiac sympathetic activity, as indicated by late HMR, was observed in 67.7% of patients. At 6–8 months, 82% of these subjects (27/33) received follow-up, and cardiac sympathetic innervation abnormalities were still present in 70.4% (19/27). Additionally, at 12–15 months post-diagnosis, persistently abnormal HMRs were found in 9 individuals who initially had abnormal sympathetic innervation. Further follow-up is needed to investigate potential long-term cardiovascular consequences of COVID-19.