Salabei JK, Asnake ZT, Ismail ZH, Charles K, Stanger GT, Abdullahi AH, Abraham AT, Okonoboh P. COVID-19 and the Cardiovascular System: An Update.
Am J Med Sci 2022;
364:139-147. [PMID:
35151635 PMCID:
PMC8830924 DOI:
10.1016/j.amjms.2022.01.022]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
As COVID-19 continues to cause an increasing number of deaths worldwide, it is important that providers stay abreast with new research related to the pathophysiology of COVID-19 disease presentation states and clinical management. It is now well recognized that COVID-19 affects extrapulmonary organs, particularly the cardiovascular system. For example, cardiogenic shock has been increasingly observed in patients with COVID-19, owing to the various mechanisms involved and the affinity of the SARS-CoV-2 virus to cells comprising the cardiovascular system. In this review, we have briefly discussed the link between the cardiovascular system and COVID-19 infection, focusing on underlying mechanisms including but not limited to cytokine storm, direct virus-induced myocarditis, and ST-elevation myocardial infarction leading to cardiogenic shock. We have highlighted the cardiovascular risk factors associated with disease prognostication in COVID-19 patients. We have also briefly discussed vasopressors and inotropes used for treating shock and presented their mechanism of action, contraindications, and side effects in the hopes of providing a quick reference to help the provider optimize management of COVID-19 patients presenting with cardiovascular complications such as shock.
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