COVID-19 and the cardiovascular system

Abstract

The COVID-19 disease pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus has affected the health of many
millions of people worldwide. In addition to severe lung damage, SARS-CoV-2 also causes cardiovascular
diseases such as myocarditis and pericarditis, arrhythmias and myocardial infarction, cardiomyopathy and
heart failure, cardiogenic shock and cardiac arrest, hypertension and abnormalities in the hemostasis system.
Patients with existing cardiovascular pathology in COVID-19 are at a significantly higher risk of complications
and mortality. The mechanisms of cardiovascular pathologies under the influence of SARS-CoV-2 - angiotensinconverting enzyme 2 activation, cytokine storm, hypoxemia, stress and cardiotoxicity of antiviral drugs - have
been studied.