Impact of COVID-19 on Cardiovascular Health Outcomes
Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic has exerted profound effects on cardiovascular health through both direct viral injury and indirect healthcare disruptions. SARS-CoV-2 infection can provoke myocardial inflammation, endothelial dysfunction and a prothrombotic state, leading to acute syndromes such as myocarditis, myocardial infarction and stroke. Concurrently, containment measures and patient reluctance to attend hospitals resulted in marked reductions in emergency presentations for acute coronary syndromes and heart failure, with subsequent rises in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and delayed treatment. Longitudinal analyses indicate that survivors of severe COVID-19 face elevated risks of arrhythmia, heart failure and thromboembolic events for months after infection. Moreover, resource reallocation during peaks of infection altered the delivery of specialised cardiac care, though maintenance of guideline-directed therapies where possible has mitigated some adverse outcomes. Globally, these trends underscore the need for resilient cardiovascular services during public health emergencies and for clear public messaging to ensure timely access to care for life-threatening cardiac conditions.
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Impact of COVID-19 on Cardiovascular Health Outcomes publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in impact of covid-19 on cardiovascular health outcomes across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Ejection fraction: Percentage of blood pumped out of a ventricle with each heartbeat, used to assess cardiac function.
Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF): A form of heart failure characterised by a left ventricular ejection fraction below normal limits, indicating impaired pump performance.
ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI): A severe heart attack type defined by characteristic ECG changes and complete arterial occlusion.
Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA): Sudden cessation of cardiac activity outside a hospital setting, requiring immediate resuscitation.
Thromboembolism: Formation of a blood clot in a vessel that can dislodge and occlude another vessel, causing ischaemic injury.
References
- A nationwide, population‐based study on specialized care for acute heart failure throughout the COVID‐19 pandemic. European Journal of Heart Failure (2024).
- COVID-19 pandemic and admission rates for and management of acute coronary syndromes in England. The Lancet (2020).
- Impact of COVID19 Pandemic on the Incidence and Management of Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest in Patients Presenting with Acute Myocardial Infarction in England. Journal of the American Heart Association (2020).
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