Cardiovascular Manifestations of the Long COVID Syndrome.

While most coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) survivors have had complete resolution of symptoms, a significant proportion have suffered from incomplete recovery. Cardiopulmonary symptoms, such as dyspnea, chest pain, and palpitations are responsible for a substantial symptom burden in COVID-19 survivors. Studies have revealed persistent myocardial injury with late gadolinium enhancement and myocardial scar on cardiac magnetic resonance in a significant proportion of patients. Evidence of myocardial edema, active inflammation, left ventricular dysfunction, and right ventricular dysfunction, is limited to a minority of patients. Large observational studies of COVID-19 survivors have indicated an increased risk of cardiovascular disease compared to the general population, including the risk of coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy, and arrhythmias. Management of long COVID is focused on supportive therapy to reduce systemic inflammation. Patients with high cardiovascular risk, namely, those who had cardiovascular complications during acute illness, patients who have new onset cardiopulmonary symptoms in the postinfectious period, and competitive athletes, should be evaluated by a cardiovascular specialist. Management of cardiovascular sequelae is currently based on general expert guideline recommendations given the lack of evidence specific to long COVID syndrome. In this review, we outline the cardiovascular manifestations of long COVID, the current evidence supporting cardiac abnormalities in the postinfectious period, and the recommended management of these patients.

Impact of COVID-19 on Patients Hospitalized With Deep Vein Thrombosis and/or Pulmonary Embolism: A Nationwide Analysis.

The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection predisposes patients to develop deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). In this study, we compared the in-hospital outcomes of patients with DVT and/or PE with concurrent COVID-19 infection vs those with concurrent flu infection. The National Inpatient Sample from 2019 to 2020 was analyzed to identify all adult admissions diagnosed with DVT and PE. These patients were then stratified based on whether they had concomitant COVID-19 or flu. We identified 62,895 hospitalizations with the diagnosis of DVT and/or PE with concomitant COVID-19, and 8155 hospitalizations with DVT and/or PE with concomitant flu infection. After 1:1 propensity score match, the incidence of cardiac arrest and inpatient mortality were higher in the COVID-19 group. The incidence of cardiogenic shock was higher in the flu group. Increased age, Hispanic race, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, arrhythmia, liver disease, coagulopathy, and rheumatologic diseases were the independent predictors of mortality in patients with DVT and/or PE with concomitant COVID-19.

Clinically Ambiguous Hemorrhagic Cardiac Tamponade Associated with Apixaban.

Hemorrhagic cardiac tamponade in the setting of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) is rare but life-threatening. Presentation in subacute cases can also be nonspecific, which can potentially delay diagnosis. A 60-year-old female with a history of heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease presented with shortness of breath, chest pain, and cough while on treatment with apixaban after a recent hospitalization for pulmonary embolism. Clinical presentation was consistent with multiple diagnoses, including pneumonia and heart failure exacerbation. However, there were several risk factors for hemopericardium with DOACs such as elevated creatinine, hypertension, elevated international normalized ratio (INR), and concomitant use of medications with similar metabolic pathways as apixaban. In addition, subtle findings on examination such as oximetry paradoxus and electrical alternans were crucial for an early diagnosis and management. In this case, we discuss key characteristics of hemopericardium with DOACs, as well as considerations on its management.