Current problems in cardiology
-
The exceptional outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic has let the scientific community to work closely and quickly learnt things in a very short period of time. This has let us recognize that thromboembolic complications are responsible for morbidity and mortality among the COVID-19 infected patients. Available data have suggested a possible multifactorial basis of these complications, and while efforts are being made to treat this infection, preventive measures with the use of systemic anticoagulation were quickly adopted to deal with this issue. Despite obvious benefits as appeared with the use of systemic anticoagulation, most of the emerged data were retrospective, hence raise questions on the possible interplay of the confounders as well as long-term benefits and safety of systemic anticoagulation.
-
Review Practice Guideline
The Iranian Society of Echocardiography (ISE) Statement on Performing Echocardiography During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Corona virus disease 2019(COVID-19) pandemic has caused a significant burden on the global health system. Considerable cardiovascular involvement has been reported among COVID-19 patients with higher ICU admission and mortality rates among patients with cardiovascular comorbidities. ⋯ On the other hand, providing safety for the patients and the healthcare personnel is a matter of great concern in the pandemic state. In this document, we have provided recommendations on performing echocardiography in hospital echocardiography labs and outpatient echocardiography clinics during the current COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease of 2019) outbreak.
-
Meta Analysis
Association of Cardiovascular Disease With Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Severity: A Meta-Analysis.
Observational studies have reported an association between underlying cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and worse prognosis in COVID-19 patients, but this still remains unclear. We conducted a meta-analysis of recent studies that reported the association of CVD with worse prognosis and increased mortality in COVID-19 patients. Literature search through PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Embase was completed by 2 reviewers from November 1, 2019 to April 20, 2020. ⋯ However, this study did not find a significant association between previous history of CVD and mortality in severe COVID-19 disease (OR = 1.72; 95% CI: 0.97-3.06, I2 = 0%, P = 0.46). Pre-existing CVD is associated with worse outcomes among patients with COVID-19. Clinicians and policymakers need to take account of these findings in implementing risk stratification models.
-
The 2019 coronavirus disease is a serious public health emergency, with serious adverse implications for populations, healthcare systems, and economies globally. Recently, concerns have been raised about possible association between ethnicity, incidence and outcomes of COVID-19 arisen from early government data. ⋯ We call for data on ethnicity to be routinely collected by governments, as part of an international collaboration, alongside other patient demographics and further research to robustly determine the magnitude of association. Moreover, governments must learn from previous pandemics and recommended strategies to mitigate risks on minority ethnicities due to socioeconomic disadvantages.
-
The link between atrial fibrillation and cognitive decline and dementia has gained interest of the medical community lately. More research is being conducted to prevent and or delay this morbidity as no curative therapy is available for cognitive decline and dementia. ⋯ Lately, treatment for atrial fibrillation including anticoagulation and catheter ablation therapies have shown to decrease the risk of deterioration of cognitive function. In this review we summarize epidemiologic studies linking the association, potential mechanisms, and impact of various modalities of therapy of atrial fibrillation on cognitive function outcomes.