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Review
. 2020 Jul;38(7):1504-1507.
doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2020.04.048. Epub 2020 Apr 18.

Cardiovascular complications in COVID-19

Brit Long  1 , William J Brady  2 , Alex Koyfman  3 , Michael Gottlieb  4
Affiliations
Review

Cardiovascular complications in COVID-19

Brit Long et al. Am J Emerg Med. 2020 Jul.

Abstract

Background: The coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). While systemic inflammation and pulmonary complications can result in significant morbidity and mortality, cardiovascular complications may also occur.

Objective: This brief report evaluates cardiovascular complications in the setting of COVID-19 infection.

Discussion: The current COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in over one million infected worldwide and thousands of death. The virus binds and enters through angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). COVID-19 can result in systemic inflammation, multiorgan dysfunction, and critical illness. The cardiovascular system is also affected, with complications including myocardial injury, myocarditis, acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, dysrhythmias, and venous thromboembolic events. Current therapies for COVID-19 may interact with cardiovascular medications.

Conclusions: Emergency clinicians should be aware of these cardiovascular complications when evaluating and managing the patient with COVID-19.

Keywords: Acute myocardial infarction; COVID-19; Cardiovascular; Dysrhythmia; Heart failure; Infectious disease; Myocarditis; Troponin.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of competing interest None.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
COVID-19 and the cardiovascular system.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

  • Cardiovascular complications in COVID-19.
    Butt N, Arshid A, Ahmad SA, Khalid N, Kayani WT. Butt N, et al. Am J Emerg Med. 2021 Jul;45:540. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2020.07.032. Epub 2020 Jul 19. Am J Emerg Med. 2021. PMID: 32713605 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

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