Patients with cardiac risk or cardiac disease have higher risk for worse outcomes with COVID so it is important that patients with cardiac conditions or risk manage their risk appropriately. This includes continuation of usual care, including medications that appear to reduce adverse cardiac and COVID related outcomes.

 

The key is for cardiac and cardiac risk patients with COVID to seek medical attention immediately. They may benefit from therapy, such as monoclonal antibody therapy, to prevent COVID illness progression. Patients that have recovered from COVID may exhibit long term cardiopulmonary sequelae such as diminished exercise capacity and fatigue. Those patients that have recovered with cardiac involvement should be screened by cardiologists prior to resuming exercise.

 

Then there are those patients, at any age, without cardiac risk or cardiac disease that may also be susceptible to cardiac injury with COVID illness, although the risk of COVID cardiac involvement is less clear in these patients. There is concern now that even a mild case of COVID may cause inflammation and damage to the heart. Various mechanisms of injury in COVID illness include heart attack, heart inflammation, heart failure and venous or arterial thrombosis.

 

But also at risk are those patients that, because of the virus, have not kept up with doctor appointments or routine screenings and tests or have not sought medical attention when they should have. That can mean the difference between life and death.

 

The Covid mRNA vaccines are safe, generally well tolerated and confer a high level of immunity. It is recommended that when the time comes for each of us to get vaccinated that we do so. Influenza vaccination reduces adverse cardiac outcomes in cardiac patients. It is conceivable that the COVID vaccination may do the same.

 

While the vaccine is a gamechanger that will diminish the pandemic, we still must remain vigilant. We cannot convey enough the importance of following CDC guidelines in everyday life. Prevention does make a difference.

 

That means we all must continue to:

• wear a face mask when out in public, especially in areas where it is difficult to social distance;

• practice hand hygiene by wash your hands frequently with soap and water;

• physically distance at least six feet apart; and

• avoid touching your mouth, nose and eyes.