COVID-19 and its long-term impact on the cardiovascular system.

INTRODUCTION: The SARS-CoV-2 virus caused a pandemic which affected healthcare delivery globally. Despite the presentation of COVID-19 infection being frequently dominated by respiratory symptoms; it is now notorious to also have potentially serious cardiovascular sequelae. This article explores current available data to provide a comprehensive overview of the pathophysiology, cardiovascular risk factors and implications of COVID-19.

AREAS COVERED: The inherent structure of SARS-CoV-2, and its interaction with both ACE-2 and non-ACE-2 mediated pathways have been implicated in the development of cardiovascular manifestations, progressively resulting in acute respiratory distress syndrome, multiorgan failure, cytokine release syndrome and subsequent myocardial damage. A plethora of risk factors have been uncovered - moreover, the interplay between existing and de novo cardiac complications must be noted. For individuals taking pre-existing cardiovascular medications, pharmacologic interactions are a crucial component. Short-term cardiovascular impacts include arrhythmia, myocarditis, pericarditis, heart failure and thromboembolism, whereas long term impacts include diabetes and hypertension. In order to identify suitable studies, a PubMed literature search was performed and included key words such as "Covid 19", "Cardiovascular disease", "Long covid" etc.

EXPERT OPINION: More sophisticated planning and effective management for cardiology healthcare provision is crucial, especially with regards to the accommodating challenges associated with Long-COVID. With the potential application of AI and automated data, there are many avenues and sequelae that can be approached for investigation.