Patients presenting with the coronavirus-2019 disease (COVID-19) have a very high risk ofcardiovascular adverse events, including death from cardiovascular causes. Unfortunately,there are no reliable statistics on the frequency and severity of these complicationsduring the index hospitalization. Moreover, the long-term cardiovascular outcomes ofthese patients are entirely unknown. The investigators aim to perform a registry ofpatients who have undergone a diagnostic nasopharyngeal swab for SARS-CoV-2 and determinetheir long-term cardiovascular outcomes.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute
respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) that has posed a significant threat to
global health. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) has been identified as a functional
receptor for coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. SARS-CoV-2 infection is
triggered by the binding of the virus spike protein to ACE2, which is highly expressed in
the heart and lungs.
There are multiple connections between COVID-19 and the cardiovascular system. First,
COVID-19 patients and pre-existing cardiovascular disease are at increased risk for
serious adverse events. Second, the infection has been associated with multiple direct
and indirect cardiovascular complications, such as acute myocardial injury, myocarditis,
arrhythmias, and thromboembolism. Third, the therapies under investigation for COVID-19
may have cardiovascular side effects. There is clear scientific evidence linking COVID-19
with cardiac damage, with a subsequent impact on mortality from any cause. The reasons
for increased mortality in patients with COVID-19 and heart damage are not fully
understood.
The long-term prognosis for patients who have had COVID-19 is entirely unknown. Previous
experience with SARS-CoV suggests that both the underlying disease and its treatment
could be associated with a worse cardiovascular prognosis. In a study of 25 survivors of
SARS-CoV, at 12 years of follow-up, altered lipid metabolism was found. Similarly, viral
diseases such as influenza A are associated with increased cardiovascular mortality after
infection.
For the reasons stated above, the investigators consider that patients who presented
COVID-19 have a high risk of long-term cardiovascular adverse events such as cardiac
death, myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, and cardiac arrhythmias. To test
this hypothesis, the investigators aimed to perform a registry of patients who have
undergone a diagnostic nasopharyngeal swab for SARS-CoV-2 and determine their long-term
cardiovascular outcomes.
Inclusion Criteria:
- ≥ 18 years
Exclusion Criteria:
- None
Hospital Clínic of Barcelona
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain