Characteristics of Cardiac Injury in Patients Diagnosed with Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome

This study aimed to characterize cardiac injury in individuals diagnosed with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) and to ascertain its relationship with prognosis. A retrospective analysis of data from 324 patients, diagnosed with SFTS between January 2021 and December 2023, was performed. Patients were categorized into survival and non-survival groups. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify significant indicators and predictive risk factors for mortality. Statistically significant differences in various parameters were found between the 2 groups, including age, history of hypertension, presence of diarrhea, petechiae, neurological abnormalities, and numerous laboratory measurements. These included lymphocyte, monocyte, and platelet counts, as well as liver enzyme levels, kidney function markers, cardiac biomarkers, clotting factors, inflammatory markers, Dabie Banda virus RNA, heart rate, PR interval, QT interval, and incidence of ST depression. Age, history of hypertension, neurological abnormalities, and creatinine, prothrombin time, and QT intervals were independent risk factors for mortality. The incidence of viral myocarditis in patients with SFTS was 64.12%, and the non-survival group demonstrated a higher incidence of cardiac injury, both earlier and more severe. The incidence of viral myocarditis in patients with SFTS was closely associated with prognosis.