Elevated FAI Index of Pericoronary Inflammation on Coronary CT Identifies Increased Risk of Coronary Plaque Vulnerability after COVID-19 Infection.

Inflammation is a key factor in the development of atherosclerosis, a disease characterized by the buildup of plaque in the arteries. COVID-19 infection is known to cause systemic inflammation, but its impact on local plaque vulnerability is unclear. Our study aimed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 infection on coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients who underwent computed tomography angiography (CCTA) for chest pain in the early stages after infection, using an AI-powered solution called CaRi-Heart®. The study included 158 patients (mean age was 61.63 ± 10.14 years) with angina and low to intermediate clinical likelihood of CAD, with 75 having a previous COVID-19 infection and 83 without infection. The results showed that patients who had a previous COVID-19 infection had higher levels of pericoronary inflammation than those who did not have a COVID-19 infection, suggesting that COVID-19 may increase the risk of coronary plaque destabilization. This study highlights the potential long-term impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular health, and the importance of monitoring and managing cardiovascular risk factors in patients recovering from COVID-19 infection. The AI-powered CaRi-Heart® technology may offer a non-invasive way to detect coronary artery inflammation and plaque instability in patients with COVID-19.

Decrease of Cardiovascular Emergencies During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The new coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March it, 2020. Since then, important changes have been observed in the medical world, both in terms of patient management and patient presentations to the hospital. A dramatic decrease in the number of cardiovascular emergencies presenting to the emergency rooms has been reported in every country affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This resulted mainly from the fear of patients to present at the hospital due to the risk of infection with the new coronavirus. Moreover, a significant increase in the time spent for investigations and specialized treatment has been reported for patients suffering from acute cardiovascular diseases. This adds to the longer times reported from symptom onset to presentation, and also to the longer period spent for triage in the emergency room. The aim of this paper is to highlight the dramatic reduction in the number of cardiovascular emergencies during the COVID-19 period and its possible explanations.