COVID-19 for the Cardiologist

Highlights

• SARS-CoV-2, the infection responsible for COVID-19, has spread globally, leading to a devastating loss of life. In a few short months, the clinical and scientific communities have rallied to rapidly evolve our understanding of the mechanism(s) of disease and potential therapeutics.

• This review discusses the current understanding of the basic virology of SARS-CoV-2 and the epidemiology, clinical manifestations (including cardiovascular), and mortality of COVID-19. A detailed review of the viral life cycle and putative mechanism(s) of injury frames the discussion of possible preventative and therapeutic strategies.

• The ongoing, unprecedented collective effort will, without a doubt, advance our ability to prevent the spread and optimally care for patients suffering from COVID-19.

Summary

Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), a contagious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), has reached pandemic status. As it spreads across the world, it has overwhelmed health care systems, strangled the global economy, and led to a devastating loss of life. Widespread efforts from regulators, clinicians, and scientists are driving a rapid expansion of knowledge of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and COVID-19. The authors review the most current data, with a focus on the basic understanding of the mechanism(s) of disease and translation to the clinical syndrome and potential therapeutics. The authors discuss the basic virology, epidemiology, clinical manifestation, multiorgan consequences, and outcomes. With a focus on cardiovascular complications, they propose several mechanisms of injury. The virology and potential mechanism of injury form the basis for a discussion of potential disease-modifying therapies.