ABSTRACT
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has generated a practically unsustainable international sanitary burden, reaching the pandemic status. Although the infection may occur in all kinds of individuals, advanced age and the presence of multiple comorbidities have been positively correlated with infection rates and mortality. The lungs appear to be the tar-get organs of the infection;however, it is not infrequent for patients to present the affectation of other tissues. Interestingly, cerebrovascular disease (CVD) has been reported in some severe cases of COVID-19. Moreover, stroke has been proposed as a possible form of presentation for COVID-19. Despite the prepondering role of age and the history of dis-orders, such as hypertension and diabetes mellitus in the development of CVD, these do not appear to be the sole under-lying mechanisms in patients with COVID-19. Patients with CVD have been noted to show a worse prognosis regarding COVID-19, suggesting a bidirectional relationship between these entities. This review aims to revise the pathophysiological mechanisms explaining the connection between CVD and COVID-19.
ABSTRACT
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has generated a practically unsustainable sanitary burden internationally, reaching the pandemic status. Although the infection may occur in all kinds of individuals, advanced age and the presence of multiple comorbidities have been positively correlated with infection rates and mortality. The lungs appear to be the target organs of the infection;however, it is not infrequent for patients to present with affectation of other tissues. Interestingly, cerebrovascular disease (CVD) has been reported in some severe cases of COVID-19. Moreover, stroke has been proposed as a possible form of presentation for COVID-19. Despite the prepondering role of age and the history of disorders, such as hypertension and diabetes mellitus in the development of CVD, these do not appear to be the sole underlying mechanisms in patients with COVID-19. Patients with CVD have been noted to show a worse prognosis regarding COVID-19, suggesting a bidirectional relationship between these entities. This review aims to revise the pathophysiological mechanisms explaining the connection between CVD and COVID-19.