Track: Cardiovascular Impact of COVID-19

Cardiology meeting 2025

The COVID-19 pandemic, produced by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has had a tremendous impact on world health, particularly the cardiovascular system. COVID-19 has a complicated association with cardiovascular health, including direct viral impacts, indirect repercussions from the body's immune response, and the broader influence on healthcare systems. COVID-19 can harm the heart and blood vessels, causing inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis), blood clot development, and blood vessel damage. Understanding and responding to these cardiovascular impacts is critical for improving patient outcomes and managing the virus's long-term health consequences.

Direct cardiac involvement:

  • Myocarditis: COVID-19 can directly infect heart muscle cells, causing myocarditis, which is an inflammation of the heart muscle. This can cause chest discomfort, arrhythmias, and, in severe cases, cardiac failure.
  • Acute Coronary Syndromes (ACS): The virus can cause acute coronary syndromes, including as heart attacks, by inducing inflammation and a pro-thrombotic condition, resulting in plaque rupture or enhanced clot formation in coronary arteries.
  • Heart Failure: Patients with severe COVID-19 are more likely to develop heart failure, either as a result of direct myocardial injury, increased cardiac workload from respiratory distress, or exacerbation of preexisting heart diseases.

Indirect Cardiovascular Effects:

  • Thromboembolism: Because COVID-19 causes a hypercoagulable state, there is an increased risk of thromboembolic events, such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE).
  • Arrhythmias: The stress of a severe illness, combined with electrolyte imbalances and inflammation, can cause arrhythmias in COVID-19 patients, worsening their clinical progress.
  • Long COVID: It refers to persistent symptoms that occur after an acute COVID-19 infection, such as palpitations, chest discomfort, and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome.

Topics to be covered:

  • Endothelial Dysfunction in COVID-19
  • Role of ACE2 in COVID-19 Pathogenesis
  • Impact on Heart Failure Patients
  • Cardiovascular Risk Assessment Post-COVID
  • Impact on Pre-existing Cardiovascular Conditions
  • Management of COVID-19 in Cardiovascular Patients
  • Cardiac Imaging in COVID-19
  • Telemedicine in COVID-19 Management
  • Role of Anticoagulation in COVID-19
  • Vaccination and Prevention
  • Cardiac Rehabilitation Post-COVID

The Cardiovascular Impact of COVID-19 is significant, affecting both those with pre-existing heart conditions and those previously healthy. The pandemic has highlighted the complex interactions between infectious diseases and cardiovascular health, emphasizing the need for vigilant cardiovascular monitoring and care in COVID-19 patients. As research progresses, your insights will be crucial in developing effective treatments and improving outcomes for those affected by this global health crisis. We invite you to share your expertise at our Heart Conference, contributing to the advancement of care in this vital field.