Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Cardiovascular Health in 2020 JACC State-of-the-Art Review

The impact of COVID-19 on the burden of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) during the early pandemic remains unclear. COVID-19 has become one of the leading causes of global mortality, with a disproportionate impact on persons with CVD. Studies of health facility admissions for CVD found significant decreases during the pandemic. Studies of hospital mortality for CVD were more variable. Studies of population-level CVD mortality differed across countries, with most showing decreases, although some revealed increases in deaths. In some countries where large increases in CVD deaths were reported in vital registration systems, misclassification of COVID-19 as CVD may have occurred. Taken together, studies suggest heterogeneous effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on CVD without large increases in CVD mortality in 2020 for a number of countries. Clinical and population science research is needed to examine the ways in which the pandemic has affected CVD burden. (C) 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier on behalf of the American College of Cardiology Foundation.

Automated summary

The impact of COVID-19 on the burden of cardiovascular diseases during the early pandemic remains unclear, with studies showing inconsistent results across different countries, including both decreases and increases in CVD mortality. Misclassification of COVID-19 as CVD may have occurred in some countries.