Cardiovascular complications in COVID-19

Abstract

The emergence of the COVID-19 virus caused by SARS coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) brought about an unprecedented pandemic that impacted global health. With the lungs being the main target of COVID-19 infection, systemic manifestations of COVID-19 infection have been reported extensively, affecting many systems, including the cardiovascular system. This is especially the case in patients with preexisting cardiovascular disease as they are more prone to develop cardiovascular injuries, including myocarditis, cardiac conduction and rhythm abnormalities, coronary artery disease, and heart failure. In this review, we summarize possible mechanisms and possible short and long-term cardiovascular complications following COVID-19 infection.