Cardiovascular Complications in Major 21st Century Viral Epidemics and Pandemics: an Insight into COVID-19

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Cardiology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Acute infections are known to precipitate cardiovascular (CV) complications.
• Individuals with underlying cardiac conditions are particularly vulnerable to these CV effects.
• The 21st century has witnessed several significant epidemics and pandemics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review major epidemics and pandemics of the 21st century.
• To discuss the spectrum of associated cardiovascular disease (CVD) complications.
• To highlight the novelty of CV effects observed in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of major 21st-century epidemics and pandemics.
• Analysis of reported cardiovascular complications associated with these outbreaks.
• Focus on the specific cardiovascular manifestations linked to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Main Results:

• Significant variation exists in the rates and types of CVD complications across different epidemics.
• COVID-19 has emerged as a major global health crisis with substantial human and economic impact.
• Emerging cardiovascular effects associated with COVID-19 represent a novel clinical entity.

Conclusions:

• Infectious disease outbreaks in the 21st century pose a significant threat of cardiovascular complications.
• Understanding the diverse CVD profiles associated with pandemics is crucial for clinical management.
• Further research into the novel cardiovascular sequelae of COVID-19 is warranted.