Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) increases the risk of several cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) such as acute myocardial injury. Vascular dysfunctions are important drivers of CVDs. A variety of risk factors promotes the development and progression of CVDs including, overweight and obesity, arterial hypertension, physical inactivity, smoking, unhealthy diet, overconsumption of alcohol, dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis and diabetes mellitus. However, nearly all of these risk factors are modifiable by antihypertensive, antidiabetic, or lipid-lowering medication and lifestyle changes. Other factors such as age or genetic factors cannot be modified. Moreover, infection and inflammation have been shown to increase the risk of CVDs. The COVID-19 pandemic yielded a new perspective to this field. Cardiometabolic events, diseases, risk factors and COVID-19 are strongly intertwined. An increased CVDs risk through multifactorial mechanisms has been observed in COVID-19 patients. Furthermore, a higher rate of infection with COVID-19, severe COVID-19, and bad outcome has been demonstrated in patients with established cardiometabolic disorders and vascular risk factors. Summary at present, we suggest that regular interactions between healthcare professionals and patients should include education on COVID-19 and on primary and secondary vascular prevention in order to minimize the burden of the virus in our susceptible populations. Keywords: Cardiometabolic disorders, cardiovascular diseases, inflammation, atherosclerosis, COVID-19.
Highlights
In December 2019, a cluster of patients with unknown cause pneumonia was identified in Wuhan (China)
We suggest that regular interactions between healthcare professionals and patients should include education on COVID-19 and on primary and secondary vascular prevention in order to minimize the burden of the virus in our susceptible populations
It is well documented that the influenza infections, as well as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) viruses, can provoke cardiovascular complications that are usually represented in the form of myocarditis, acute myocardial infarction, acute heart failure, arrhythmia, subclinical diastolic impairment and cardiac arrest 8,9
Summary
In December 2019, a cluster of patients with unknown cause pneumonia was identified in Wuhan (China). Cardiometabolic disorders have been described among the most important chronic underlying conditions worsening COVID-19 outcomes 5,6, with arterial hypertension, obesity, physical inactivity, dyslipidemia and diabetes mellitus being frequent comorbidities in patients with COVID-19 who require intensive care or die 7. In this short review, we examined what is known concerning the possible comorbidities that may be risk factors for a more severe clinical course as well as mortality of COVID-19. It should be pointed out that some of the information mentioned below is based on the best judgment of endocrinologists and physicians with the first-hand experience in the care of such patients and some results of extensive clinical trial data
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