Abstract
COVID-19 is currently considered an inflammatory disease affecting the entire organism. In severe forms, an augmented inflammatory response leads to the fulminant “cytokine storm”, which may result in severe multisystemic end-organ damage. Apart from the acute inflammatory response, it seems that chronic inflammation also plays a major role in the clinical evolution of COVID-19 patients. Pre-existing inflammatory conditions, such as those associated with chronic coronary diseases, type 2 diabetes mellitus or obesity, may be associated with worse clinical outcomes in the context of COVID-19 disease. These comorbidities are reported as powerful predictors of poor outcomes and death following COVID-19 disease. Moreover, in the context of chronic coronary syndrome, the cytokine storm triggered by SARS-CoV-2 infection may favor vulnerabilization and rupture of a silent atheromatous plaque, with consequent acute coronary syndrome, leading to a sudden deterioration of the clinical condition of the patient. This review aims to present the current status of knowledge regarding the link between COVID-19 mortality, systemic inflammation and several major diseases associated with poor outcomes, such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and obesity.
Highlights
Introduction iationsThe novel coronavirus disease produced by SARS-CoV-2, a virus producing severe acute respiratory syndrome, caused a global pandemic with serious medical, psychological and socioeconomic consequences [1,2,3,4]
COVID-19 is associated with intense multisystemic inflammation in both adults and children, leading, in the most severe cases, to a cytokine storm that is responsible for poor outcomes
Systemic inflammation associated with COVID-19 is directly associated with cardiovascular complications
Summary
Introduction iationsThe novel coronavirus disease produced by SARS-CoV-2, a virus producing severe acute respiratory syndrome, caused a global pandemic with serious medical, psychological and socioeconomic consequences [1,2,3,4]. Health Organization, a number of almost 100 million infected cases have been reported by 25 January 2021, leading to over 2 million deaths so far. The number of new infections continues to increase day by day, with the highest prevalence in America and Europe. The most common clinical manifestations of the novel COVID-19 disease are represented by respiratory symptoms that reflect COVID pneumonia progressing, in the most severe cases, to acute respiratory distress syndrome. It seems that pre-existing diseases associated with chronic inflammation, such as diabetes, obesity or cardiovascular diseases (CVD), are associated with significantly worse outcomes and higher mortality after.
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