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. 2022 Nov 30;14(11):e32082. doi: 10.7759/cureus.32082

Table 5. History and physical examination of COVID-19 myocardial injury patients.

COVID-19: coronavirus disease 2019; ULN: upper limit of normal; COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; ICD: implantable cardioverter-defibrillator; ASD: atrial septal defect

Variable Normal troponin Elevated troponin (troponin >ULN) P-value
N = 132 N = 85
Age 63 (50-77) 79 (63-85) 0.000
Male sex 70 (53.4%) 45 (52.8%) 0.935
Body mass index 29.1 (25-35.5) 27 (23.5-32.2) 0.033
Race
White 42 (40.7%) 38 (60.3%)  
Black 19 (18.4%) 15 (25.3%) 0.86
Hispanic 33 (32%) 5 (7.9%) 0.001
Asian 9 (8.7%) 4 (6.3%) 0.268
Duration of COVID-19 illness 4 (1-8) 3 (1-7) 0.417
Clinical symptoms
Myalgia 34 (26.1%) 26 (31.7%) 0.433
Fever 66 (50%) 40 (47%) 0.577
Cough 77 (58.3%) 40 (48.1%) 0.109
Sputum 14 (10.6%) 11 (13.1%) 0.627
Dyspnea 87 (66.4%) 57 (67%) 0.922
Chest pain 29 (22.1%) 9 (10.7%) 0.066
Pleuritic chest pain 7 (5.3%) 1 (1.1%) 0.111
Comorbidities
Myocardial infarction 12 (9%) 20 (23.5%) 0.001
Congestive heart failure 14 (10.6%) 24 (27.9%) 0.001
Atrial fibrillation 13 (9.8%) 26 (30.2%) 0.000
Cardiomyopathy 4 (3%) 12 (13.9%) 0.003
Stroke 10 (7.5%) 7 (8.1%) 0.911
Diabetes mellitus 50 (37.8%) 32 (37.6%) 0.02
Hypertension 74 (56%) 67 (77.9%) 0.001
Dyslipidemia 55 (41.6%) 48 (55.8%) 0.029
COPD 13 (9.8%) 10 (11.6%) 0.712
Pulmonary hypertension 2 (1.5%) 2 (2.3%) 0.669
Solid cancer 14 (10.6%) 10 (11.4%) 0.852
Hematologic cancer 0 6 (6.8%) 0.002
Chemotherapy for cancer 3 (2.2%) 3 (3.4%) 0.609
Chronic kidney disease 23 (17.4%) 22 (25.8%) 0.005
History of organ transplant 1 (0.7%) 0 0.414
Liver disease 4 (3%) 1 (1.1%) 0.358
Smoking 31 (23.4%) 7 (8.1%) 0.009
Alcohol abuse 13 (9.8%) 9 (10.4%) 0.619
Recent surgery 4 (3%) 10 (11.7%) 0.012
Hemodialysis or continuous renal replacement therapy 3 (2.2%) 9 (10.4%) 0.011
Any cardiovascular disease 33 (25%) 49 (56.9%) 0.000
Any cardiovascular risk factors 50 (37.8%) 32 (37.2%) 0.887
Rare causes of elevated troponin
Current burns 0 0  
Physical exertion 0 2 (2.3%) 0.08
Recent ablation 1 (0.7%) 0 0.414
Pacemaker 4 (3%) 5 (5.8%) 0.328
Cardioversion/ICD shocks 0 0  
Heart biopsy/open heart surgery/closure of ASD 0 0  
Biotin use 0 1 (1.1%) 0.219
Infectious mononucleosis 0 2 (2.2%) 0.081
Trauma 1 (0.76%) 1 (1.1%) 0.77
Physical examination
Systolic blood pressure (mm/Hg) 128 (114-140) 123 (111-150) 0.789
Diastolic blood pressure (mm/Hg) 73 (64-80) 70 (60-81) 0.552
Mean arterial pressure <65 mm/Hg 2 (1.5%) 7 (8%) 0.018
Maximum temperature (F) 98.9 (98.3-100) 98.8 (98.1-100.2) 0.684
Heart rate (beats/minute) 90 (80-100) 92 (80-109) 0.074
Respiratory rate (per minute) 20 (18-24) 22 (19-28) 0.04
Oxygen saturation (%) 96 (94-97) 95 (93-98) 0.615
Oxygenation device
Room air 93 (70.4%) 45 (52.3%) 0.006
Nasal cannula 12 (9%) 20 (23.2%)  
High-flow nasal cannula 21 (15.9%) 8 (9.3%)  
Jugular venous distension 2 (1.5%) 0 0.246
Rales 15 (11.4%) 22 (25.8%) 0.007