by:Lilian Mbau With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, virtual health is being embraced more than ever (1). This is especially so for cardiovascular disease (CVD) care because patients with underlying conditions such as CVD or associated risk factors have an increased risk of dying from COVID-19 infection (2). In addition, virtual health provides an option forContinue reading “Virtual health and COVID-19: Is this the future of cardiovascular disease care delivery?”
Tag Archives: Cardiovascular Disease
Ethnicity, cardiovascular disease and COVID-19 in the UK
by:Alice M. Jackson Soon after the first death of a UK health care worker linked to COVID-19 was reported at the end of March, an alarming trend quickly appeared – the majority of those dying on the front line were from an ethnic minority. To date, just under two-thirds have been from a Black, AsianContinue reading “Ethnicity, cardiovascular disease and COVID-19 in the UK”
EMPTY HOSPITALS: ARE WE CREATING A TICKING TIME BOMB FOR CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE PATIENTS
by:Lilian Mbau A lot has been discussed about the interaction between coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) and Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs) with more focus on the effect of COVID-19 on patients with CVDs as well as the cardiovascular (CV) complications resulting from COVID-19 infection. Patients with underlying conditions such as CVD or associated risk factors haveContinue reading “EMPTY HOSPITALS: ARE WE CREATING A TICKING TIME BOMB FOR CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE PATIENTS”
The Implications of Viral Particles in the Myocardium
by.Darryl Leong Systolic left ventricular dysfunction in the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease has been described in several anecdotes and case reports in patients with COVID-19. The mechanisms underlying the cardiomyopathy is unclear. In a case report, Tavazzi, et al. describe the first instance of coronavirus-like particles seen by electron microscopy in the myocardiumContinue reading “The Implications of Viral Particles in the Myocardium”
Cardiac Biomarkers and COVID19
by:Darryl Leong In a single-centre retrospective study of 273 patients from Wuhan, China, Han et al. reported that 10% had elevated troponin I and 12% had elevated NT-proBNP concentrations(1). Elevated cardiac biomarker levels were more common among severely ill patients as compared to milder cases. Among mild cases, 5% and 7% had elevated troponin IContinue reading “Cardiac Biomarkers and COVID19”
Cardiovascular implications of fatal outcomes of patients with Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
by:Lucrecia M. Burgos Myocardial injury is significantly associated with fatal outcome of COVID-19, while the prognosis of patients with underlying (CVD) but without myocardial injury is relatively favourable according to a recent study in JAMA Cardiology1. In this retrospective single-centre case series, the authors analysed consecutive hospitalized patients with COVID-19 at the Seventh Hospital of WuhanContinue reading “Cardiovascular implications of fatal outcomes of patients with Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)”
The link between smoking and COVID 19; should we wait for more evidence to quit smoking?
by: Jeemon Panniyammakal Various international agencies such as the World Health Organisation, and Centre for Disease Control and Prevention consider tobacco use as a risk condition associated with susceptibility to COVID 19 and progression to adverse outcomes. Vardavas and Nikitara conducted a systematic review of evidence to evaluate the association between smoking and COVID 19Continue reading “The link between smoking and COVID 19; should we wait for more evidence to quit smoking?”
Prevalence and impact of cardiovascular metabolic diseases on COVID-19 in China
by:Lucrecia M. Burgos Patients with previous cardiovascular metabolic diseases may face a greater risk of developing into the severe condition and the comorbidities can also greatly affect the prognosis of the 2019 novel corona virus (2019-nCoV) disease (COVID-19). On the other hand, COVID-19 can, in turn, aggravate the damage to the heart, according to aContinue reading “Prevalence and impact of cardiovascular metabolic diseases on COVID-19 in China”
Should cardiovascular disease comorbidity scare you during the COVID-19 season?
by: Dr. Jeemon Panniyammakal, PhD, MPH, FESC The SARS-CoV-2 infection (corona virus infection) spread has reached pandemic proportions. Globally, as on 31 March, 2020 nearly 0.8 million corona virus disease (COVID-19) cases and 38,000 related deaths are reported. Countries around the world are particularly “shielding” or “protecting” individuals with cardiovascular disease (CVD) from external exposureContinue reading “Should cardiovascular disease comorbidity scare you during the COVID-19 season?”
Can the fear of COVID-19 lead to harmful delays in seeking care for cardiovascular emergencies?
by: Darryl Leong The impact of COVID-19 on the delivery of care for emergency cardiovascular illness is unknown. In this report, Tam, et al. describe the timeliness of primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in 7 consecutive patients presenting to a single centre in Hong Kong, China, between January 25, andContinue reading “Can the fear of COVID-19 lead to harmful delays in seeking care for cardiovascular emergencies?”
The Heart in the Time of COVID-19 