SARS-CoV-2 Influence on Pregnant Women with Cardiovascular Diseases

ABSTRACT

The global coronavirus disease pandemic of 2019 (COVID-19) has changed humanity, affecting millions of people with and without various ailments. While the majority of COVID-19 patients recover, a significant percentage of patients experience serious problems, and some even die. The respiratory system, specifically the alveoli, is primarily affected by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) due to direct destruction of infected epithelial cells and the mimicked inflammatory response by the host, resulting in respiratory distress and, in some cases, cardiovascular complications At the same time, pregnant women, not simply the general population, are frequently affected by SARS-CoV-2 infection. As a result, viral infection is linked to higher levels of inflammatory biomarkers including interleukin-6 and dimer D, which could affect severe clinical aspects like thrombosis and cardiac damage. COVID-19-complications are more likely in patients with preexisting cardiovascular or cerebrovascular illness with risk factors such as male gender, elderly patients, hypertension, diabetes, obesity. As a result, these factors have been associated to an increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Although the connections between COVID-19 and cardiovascular inflammation in pregnant women require more exploration, this modest review focuses on the probable pathways by which SARS-CoV-2 infects its host, particularly in pregnant women with cardiovascular illness.