COVID-19 and Cardiometabolic Health: Lessons Gleaned from the Pandemic and Insights for the Next Wave

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To review the current evidence regarding the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on cardiometabolic health, with a focus on strategies to help mitigate adverse effects on population health. RECENT FINDINGS: Individuals with cardiometabolic disease are particularly vulnerable to worse outcomes with COVID-19 infection. In addition, the pandemic itself has had significant deleterious impact on the cardiometabolic health of the population, including declines in physical activity, increases in smoking and alcohol use, worsening blood pressure and glycemic control, and detrimental effects on mental health. Targeted interventions at the patient and community level will be needed to mitigate the long-term consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on population cardiometabolic health. SUMMARY: The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened cardiometabolic health, but there are several opportunities and enhanced tools available to counteract these changes.