International Journal of Cardiovascular Sciences. 10/Sep/2024;37:e20240016.

Biomarkers and Mononuclear Inflammatory Activity in COVID-19 Survivors

Marcio Carvalho , Antonio Lagoeiro

DOI: 10.36660/ijcs.20240016

Introduction

COVID-19 has globally impacted 522 million people and caused 6 million deaths, despite the administration of 12 billion vaccine doses. Beyond respiratory effects, the virus has led to complications in the cardiovascular, hematological, and nervous systems, potentially resulting in organ dysfunction and death. Individuals with pre-existing medical conditions such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease are associated with worse prognoses. Increased long-term mortality risk is observed, especially in the elderly population, regardless of the acute phase severity.

COVID-19 affects multiple organs beyond the lungs, including various cardiovascular diseases such as myocarditis, acute myocardial infarction, stress cardiomyopathy, arterial and venous thromboembolism, pericarditis, and arrhythmias. The pathophysiological mechanisms include systemic inflammation (cytokine storm), coagulopathy, direct viral invasion, hypoxemia, electrolyte imbalance, and fever.

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