Right heart overload – possible long-term sequelae of Covid-19: a narrative review

Abstract

The United Nations announced the COVID-19 Pandemic in March 2019, and since then, many efforts have been made to understand better the multiple consequences of the virus on one's health. Notably, such viral infection leads to an increase in the formation of thrombi and microthrombi. However, mechanisms are not precise yet, neither are these complication consequences and management. It is essential to acknowledge these aspects of the disease, so patients receive better health care when dealing with COVID-19. This article's extensive search involved PubMed, SCOPUS, Cochrane, and Google Scholar databases; authors used keywords to find relevant studies on the subject. SARS-CoV2 creates a pro-thrombotic state through direct endothelial damage and a cytokine storm, affecting the lung, among other organs, leading to hypoxia and a rise in vascular resistance. Increased vascular resistance makes patients prone to cardiac stress, with a known association with right heart failure, among other insults to the heart. This condition affects both outpatients and inpatients, hypertension being a significant risk factor. The cardiac damage can be observed by cardiac injury biomarkers, imaging, and heart failure symptoms. Considering the massive number of infected during the pandemic, we suggest that right heart failure secondary to increased vascular resistance in the COVID/post-COVID state presents as a long-term sequel of the infection. Moreover, we believe it deserves attention so that patients may receive early and adequate health care.