The Cardiovascular Component Of COVID-19

When Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of Corona Virus disease 2019 (COVID-19), became an emerging clinical emergency the initial approach was to treat this novel pathogen as a respiratory disease typical of other coronaviruses. It became quickly apparent that the clinical manifestations of COVID-19 were not limited to the respiratory system. As we move forward today, the need to understand all clinical aspects of COVID-19 still remains. 29% of patients admitted into hospital with COVID-19 were readmitted within six months of discharge from hospital. Of those readmitted, 29.8% had a new respiratory diagnosis and 4.8% had a major adverse cardiovascular event including either heart failure, myocardial infarction, stroke or arrhythmia. Furthermore, when a group of 7,500 Covid patients were followed for up to 18 months it was found this group, compared to uninfected people, were around 40% more likely to develop