Covid and Cardiovascular Diseases: Direct and Indirect Damages and Future Perspective

Ruzzenenti, Giacomo; Maloberti, Alessandro; Giani, Valentina; Biolcati, Marco; Leidi, Filippo; Monticelli, Massimiliano; Grasso, Enzo; Cartella, Iside; Palazzini, Matteo; Garatti, Laura; Ughi, Nicola; Rossetti, Claudio; Epis, Oscar Massimiliano; Giannattasio, Cristina

SARS-CoV-2 infection determines a disease that predominantly affects lungs. However the cytokines storms, determined by the huge immune response to the infection, could affect also other organs and apparatus such as heart and vessels. Beyond the acute inflammation itself also hypercoagulative status has been linked to SARSCoV-2 infection and this surely relates to the increase seen in prevalence of pulmonary embolism and myocardial infarction. A number of cardiac abnormalities and pathologies have been observed, with special attention to cardiac arrhythmias and myocardial involvement. Furthermore, indirect damages determined by the reduction in acute and chronic cardiovascular care, results in a strong mortality and morbidity outcomes in cardiological patients. In this review we will summarise current knowledge on both direct and indirect cardiovascular damages determined by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemia.