An interesting finding: What is the relation between aortic enlargement and COVID-19?

Background: We aim to compare the diameters of ascending aorta in COVID-19 patients and COVID-19-free individuals referred to our pandemic hospital.

Methods: The medical records and thorax tomographies of patients admitted to the "pandemic central" state hospital with symptoms of COVID-19 were observed between April 2020 and May 2020 in this case-control study. The first group consisted of patients diagnosed with COVID-19, and the second group consisted of patients without the disease. The diameter of the ascending aorta is measured via tomography and compared to each other. The most causative risk factors for aortic enlargements underwent a multivariate regression analysis.

Results: Charts of 156 patients (104 COVID-19 positives, 52 COVID-19 negatives) were reviewed. There was a statistical difference (: .01) between the mean aortic diameter of COVID-19 patients (39 mm) and COVID-free patients (32.5 mm) even though comorbid factors and patient characteristics were similar in the two groups at the time of hospital admission. The regression analysis result demonstrates that COVID-19 (leading factor), age, and coronary artery disease were the most significant factors associated with increasing aortic dimensions. (: .001, B: 5.3/, : .02, B: 3.36/, : .002, B: 0.13/, R square: 40.2%).

Conclusion: This study shows that the mean aortic diameter of COVID-19 patients is larger than non-COVID-19 patients with similar comorbidities referred to a pandemic hospital. COVID-19, age, and coronary artery disease are the most influential factors that affect the aortic diameter, and the COVID-19 was the leading factor.