Cardiovascular Disease and COVID-19

bansal2020

Abstract

Background and aims

Many patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have underlying cardiovascular (CV) disease or develop acute cardiac injury during the course of the illness. Adequate understanding of the interplay between COVID-19 and CV disease is required for optimum management of these patients.

Methods

A literature search was done using PubMed and Google search engines to prepare a narrative review on this topic.

Results

Respiratory illness is the dominant clinical manifestation of COVID-19; CV involvement occurs much less commonly. Acute cardiac injury, defined as significant elevation of cardiac troponins, is the most commonly reported cardiac abnormality in COVID-19. It occurs in approximately 8–12% of all patients. Direct myocardial injury due to viral involvement of cardiomyocytes and the effect of systemic inflammation appear to be the most common mechanisms responsible for cardiac injury. The information about other CV manifestations in COVID-19 is very limited at present. Nonetheless, it has been consistently shown that the presence of pre-existing CV disease and/or development of acute cardiac injury are associated with significantly worse outcome in these patients.

Conclusions

Most of the current reports on COVID-19 have only briefly described CV manifestations in these patients. Given the enormous burden posed by this illness and the significant adverse prognostic impact of cardiac involvement, further research is required to understand the incidence, mechanisms, clinical presentation and outcomes of various CV manifestations in COVID-19 patients. Cardiovascular Disease and COVID-19

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION;

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic is a serious threat to the world’s population. It could kill millions of people, and there are many things you can do to protect yourself from this deadly virus. In this article, we’ll go over what you need to know about heart disease and COVID-19 so that you can be as safe as possible during this crisis.

If you have heart disease, you should be taking extra precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you have heart disease, you should be taking extra precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Heart disease is a leading cause of death in the United States and approximately half of all deaths due to COVID-19 will likely occur in patients with advanced heart failure.

The severity of COVID-19 infections has been shown to increase with age, making older adults more vulnerable than younger people. Furthermore, people who are already living with chronic conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure may also be at higher risk for complications resulting from this virus.

Be sure to wash your hands frequently and properly.

Hand washing is one of the most important things you can do to prevent COVID-19. Washing your hands often and properly is an easy way to prevent transmission of disease, but there are some exceptions.

If you don’t have access to running water, use wet wipes or soap and water.
Don’t forget about children: they need regular hand-washing as well!

Stock up on medications.

If you’re in a position to do so, it’s important to stock up on medications that can help manage your symptoms if you have heart disease or cardiovascular disease (CVD). The main types of these are:

ACE inhibitors—these drugs help control high blood pressure; they work by inhibiting the production of an enzyme called angiotensin II. ACE inhibitors are usually used in combination with other treatments such as beta blockers or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs).
ARBs—these drugs help control high blood pressure; they work by blocking the receptors for another hormone called angiotensin II. Some examples include candesartan and losartan.

Stay connected socially.

Stay connected socially.
Make sure you have a strong support network of friends and family, as well as doctors and other healthcare professionals who can help you navigate this difficult time.

Practice social distancing when possible.

In general, you should avoid close contact with people who are sick. If you must be in the same room as someone who has SLE, develop a plan for avoiding eye contact and talking about personal topics that could trigger an attack. Also consider wearing a surgical mask when around others so that your face does not endanger others’ health by transmitting infection (1).

When possible, stay home if you have symptoms of cardiovascular disease such as chest pain or shortness of breath; these conditions increase the risk for SLE (2).

Protecting yourself from COVID-19 if you have heart disease is important because it could mean the difference between life and death

If you have heart disease, protecting yourself from COVID-19 is important. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the US and more than half of people with coronary artery disease die within five years of diagnosis.

COVID-19 can worsen heart failure and make it more likely that you’ll have a stroke or cardiac arrest (heart attack). In fact, COVID-19 may be responsible for as many as one in six cases of sudden cardiac death—that’s one out of every six patients who die suddenly while having no prior symptoms at all!

COVID-19 infection has also been linked to an increased risk for arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms), which can lead to sudden cardiac arrest if they’re not treated promptly enough or if they keep recurring over time.”

Conclusion

If you have heart disease, you should be taking extra precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Be sure to wash your hands frequently and properly. Stock up on medications. Stay connected socially, practice social distancing when possible, and protect yourself from COVID-19 if possible by practicing good hygiene habits and staying safe in crowded areas like airports or train stations where there is a high likelihood of getting sick due to airborne droplets containing germs carrying potentially deadly diseases like influenza virus or flu type B strains which cause respiratory illnesses.

Nursing Worker