Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 25, 2025
Author Spotlight: Advancements in Multiplex Detection of Respiratory Viruses
Published on: November 10, 2023
Cardiovascular implications of COVID-19 versus influenza infection: a review
Muhammad Shahzeb Khan1, Izza Shahid2, Stefan D Anker3
1Department of Medicine, Cook County Health Sciences, Chicago, IL, USA.
Insights
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and influenza share symptoms, but COVID-19 presents higher mortality and cardiovascular risks. Prioritizing influenza vaccination is crucial until a COVID-19 vaccine is available.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and influenza exhibit overlapping clinical symptoms, leading to frequent comparisons.
- Patients with pre-existing cardiovascular diseases (CVD) face elevated risks for severe outcomes from both illnesses.
- The convergence of high COVID-19 transmission rates and approaching influenza season presents significant cardiovascular health challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the similarities and differences between influenza and COVID-19.
- To highlight the potential cardiovascular risks associated with concurrent COVID-19 and influenza epidemics.
- To emphasize the importance of cardiovascular disease management during dual respiratory viral outbreaks.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of clinical features, mortality rates, and patient outcomes between COVID-19 and influenza.
- Review of existing literature on cardiovascular complications in patients with COVID-19 and influenza.
- Examination of hospitalization trends and critical care needs for both diseases.
Main Results:
- COVID-19 exhibits a case fatality rate approximately 15 times higher than influenza.
- Cardiovascular disease is a significant factor in COVID-19 mortality, present in 15-70% of deaths.
- COVID-19 patients show a markedly higher frequency of vascular thrombosis and critical care needs compared to influenza patients.
- A notable decrease in cardiovascular hospitalizations was observed during the COVID-19 pandemic, partly due to deferred care.
Conclusions:
- Co-infection with COVID-19 and influenza may significantly burden healthcare systems, with limited current data on clinical progression.
- Developing new interventions to control COVID-19 is vital, especially with the onset of influenza season.
- High coverage of influenza vaccination is a top priority until an effective COVID-19 vaccine becomes widely available.
Background:
Due to the overlapping clinical features of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and influenza, parallels are often drawn between the two diseases. Patients with pre-existing cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are at a higher risk for severe manifestations of both illnesses. Considering the high transmission rate of COVID-19 and with the seasonal influenza approaching in late 2020, the dual epidemics of COVID-19 and influenza pose serious cardiovascular implications. This review highlights the similarities and differences between influenza and COVID-19 and the potential risks associated with coincident pandemics.
Main Body:
COVID-19 has a higher mortality compared to influenza with case fatality rate almost 15 times more than that of influenza. Additionally, a significantly increased risk of adverse outcomes has been noted in patients with CVD, with ~ 15 to 70% of COVID-19 related deaths having an underlying CVD. The critical care need have ranged from 5 to 79% of patients hospitalized due to COVID-19, a proportion substantially higher than with influenza. Similarly, the frequency of vascular thrombosis including deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism is markedly higher in COVID-19 patients compared with influenza in which vascular complications are rarely seen. Unexpectedly, while peak influenza season is associated with increased cardiovascular hospitalizations, a decrease of ~ 50% in cardiovascular hospitalizations has been observed since the first diagnosed case of COVID-19, owing in part to deferred care.
Conclusion:
In the coming months, increasing efforts towards evaluating new interventions will be vital to curb COVID-19, especially as peak influenza season approaches. Currently, not enough data exist regarding co-infection of COVID-19 with influenza or how it would progress clinically, though it may cause a significant burden on an already struggling health care system. Until an effective COVID-19 vaccination is available, high coverage of influenza vaccination should be of utmost priority.
More Related Videos
12:21A Mouse Model for the Transition of Streptococcus pneumoniae from Colonizer to Pathogen upon Viral Co-Infection Recapitulates Age-Exacerbated Illness
Published on: September 28, 2022
05:21A Luciferase-fluorescent Reporter Influenza Virus for Live Imaging and Quantification of Viral Infection
Published on: August 14, 2019
Related Concept Videos
01:14Myocarditis III: Medical Management
01:26Pharmacokinetics: Drug–Food and Drug–Viral Interactions
01:20Exercise and Cardiovascular Response
Light to moderate physical activity initiates a series of interconnected responses in the body. The heart rate modestly increases in anticipation of the workout, followed by widespread vasodilation as oxygen consumption by skeletal muscles increases. This results in decreased peripheral resistance, increased capillary blood flow, and accelerated...
01:19Acute Coronary Syndrome II: Pathophysiology and Clinical Manifestations
01:21Myocarditis I: Introduction
01:26Coronary Artery Disease IV: Preventive Measures