Cardiovascular disease and covid-19: A systematic review

B A Krishna; M Metaxaki; N Sithole; P Landín; P Martín; A Salinas-Botrán

doi:10.1016/j.ijcha.2024.101482

Cardiovascular disease and covid-19: A systematic review

Int J Cardiol Heart Vasc. 2024 Aug 2:54:101482. doi: 10.1016/j.ijcha.2024.101482. eCollection 2024 Oct.

Authors

B A Krishna¹, M Metaxaki¹, N Sithole^{1

2}, P Landín³, P Martín⁴, A Salinas-Botrán^{5

6}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
² Department of Infectious Diseases, Cambridge University, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
³ Department of Cardiology, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain.
⁴ Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain.
⁵ Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain.
⁶ Department of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.

Abstract

Background: Cardiovascular complications of COVID-19 are numerous and aspects of this phenomenon are not well known. The main objective of this manuscript is a systematic review of the acute and chronic cardiovascular complications secondary to COVID-19.

Methods: A systematic review of the literature through Medline via PubMed was conducted (2020-2024).

Results: There is a plethora of effects of COVID-19 on the heart in the acute setting. Here we discuss pathophysiology, myocardial infarctions, heart failure, Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy, myocardial injury, myocarditis and arrhythmias that are caused by COVID-19. Additionally, these cardiovascular injuries can linger and may be an underlying cause of some Long COVID symptoms.

Conclusions: Cardiovascular complications of COVID-19 are numerous and life-threatening. Long COVID can affect cardiovascular health. Microclotting induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection could be a therapeutic target for some aspects of Long Covid.

Keywords: COVID-19; Cardiovascular disease; Long COVID-19 syndrome; SARS-CoV-2.

Publication types

Review