Cardiovascular Implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Cardiovascular specialists have important roles in patient care during the pandemic and the ensuing practice transformation.

The COVID-19 pandemic has broad and evolving ramifications across all of healthcare. To examine studies relevant to cardiovascular (CV) professionals, a group of academics reviewed the literature (including vetted preprints) through mid-March 2020 about this highly transmissible virus. Highlights include:

The literature should be considered in light of potential biases, including availability of testing and incomplete reporting.
COVID-19 can cause significant illness: in China, 13.9% of cases were deemed “severe” and 4.7% “critical”; in early reports, crude case fatality rates were 3.8%. These numbers are likely to change with data from other countries with different medical capacity.
Case fatality is substantially higher among individuals wit…

Reviewing Author

Frederick A. Masoudi, MD, MSPH, FACC, FAHA

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardBristol Myers Squibb; CPC Clinical Research

Grant/Research SupportNational Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Editorial BoardsUpToDate; American College of Cardiology Self-Assessment Program (SAP)

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican College of Cardiology (Chair, Innovations Committee)