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Lung CT Segmentation to Identify Consolidations and Ground Glass Areas for Quantitative Assesment of SARS-CoV Pneumonia
Published on: December 19, 2020
COVID-19 Severity: Lung-Heart Interplay
Gayatri Puri1, Vikram P Singh2, Amarjit S Naura1
1Department of Biochemistry, Panjab University, Chandigarh 160014, India.
Insights
Severe COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) can cause lung failure and heart damage. Understanding the lung-heart connection is crucial for developing effective treatments and improving patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pulmonology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, emerged globally in late 2019, causing widespread illness and mortality.
- The virus primarily targets the pulmonary system, potentially leading to Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) and lung failure.
- Co-morbidities like cardiovascular disease and diabetes are linked to increased COVID-19 severity, with myocardial injury observed even in patients without prior heart conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the intricate relationship between lung and heart function during SARS-CoV-2 infection.
- To elucidate the mechanisms underlying the observed lung-heart crosstalk in COVID-19 patients.
- To provide insights for developing effective diagnostic and therapeutic strategies to mitigate COVID-19 severity.
Main Methods:
- This review synthesizes current scientific literature on COVID-19 pathophysiology.
- It analyzes mechanisms of pulmonary damage and secondary cardiac complications.
- The focus is on understanding the interplay between respiratory and cardiovascular systems.
Main Results:
- SARS-CoV-2 infection can trigger significant pulmonary inflammation, leading to systemic effects.
- Pulmonary damage can precipitate myocardial injury, even in individuals without pre-existing cardiovascular conditions.
- The crosstalk between lung and heart contributes to the high mortality rates observed in severe COVID-19 cases.
Conclusions:
- Understanding the lung-heart axis in COVID-19 is essential for early diagnosis and risk stratification.
- Identifying these mechanisms can guide the development of targeted treatments to reduce disease severity and mortality.
- Further research into this crosstalk may reveal novel therapeutic targets for managing severe COVID-19.
Abstract:
In December 2019, a novel COVID-19 infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 has emerged as a global emergency. In a few months, the pathogen has infected millions of people in the world. Primarily SARS-CoV-2 infects the pulmonary system which ultimately leads to ARDS and lung failure. The majority of patients develop milder symptoms but the infection turns severe in a huge number of people, which ultimately results in enhanced mortality in COVID-19 patients. Co-morbid conditions, primarily cardiovascular complications and diabetes, have been reported to show a strong correlation with COVID-19 severity. Further, the onset of myocardial injury secondary to pulmonary damage has been observed in critically ill patients who have never reported heart-related ailments before. Due to drastic health risks associated with virus infection, the unprecedented disruption in normal business throughout the world has caused economic misery. Apparently, newer treatments are urgently needed to combat the virus particularly to reduce the severity burden. Therefore, understanding the crosstalk between lung and heart during COVID-19 might give us better clarity for early diagnosis followed by appropriate treatment in patients with the likelihood of developing severe symptoms. Accordingly, the present review highlights the potential mechanisms that may explain the crosstalk between lung and heart so that effective treatment/management strategies can be evolved swiftly in this direction.
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