Coronavirus (COVID-19) infection - impact on cardiovascular system

AIM: This review aimed to explain novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infection impact on cardiovascular system and patients management in community and primary care settings. METHOD: Literature search and review limited to 2020 of published papers identified dealing with Coronavirus and cardiovascular disease. RESULTS: Coronavirus is a large family of positive-sense, enveloped, single-stranded RNA viruses that belong to the Nidovirales order. Covid-19 refers to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 variant. Myocardial injury has a considerable association with mortality outcomes for COVID-19 infection. The prognosis of patients with underlying cardiovascular diseases, who had not sustained myocardial injury was relatively favourable. Inflammation may also be a potential mechanism for myocardial injury. So far, current evidence suggests statistically significant associations between cardiac injury and mortality in patients with COVID-19. Whether this is mediated by destruction of angiotensin converting enzyme 2 in heart cells or by other mechanisms, is being investigated. CONCLUSION: In patients with underlying cardiovascular diseases, aggressive treatment for COVID-19 should be considered and clinicians should be aware of the significantly increased risk of serious infection and worse prognosis in this patient group. New evidence and studies are continually emerging and will confirm or refute our current understanding about COVID-19 impact. Primary care practitioners are urged to continue to monitor the evolving evidence to appropriately manage their patients who are at risk of, or currently diagnosed with cardiovascular conditions.