Patients with CV risk factors including male sex, advanced age, diabetes, hypertension and obesity as well as patients with established CV and cerebrovascular disease have been identified as particularly vulnerable populations with increased morbidity and mortality when suffering from COVID-19.
SARS-CoV‑2 not only causes viral pneumonia but has major implications for the CV system. Of note, assays to detect the virus in asymptomatic and symptomatic patients have important limitations in terms of sensitivity and specificity and will be complemented by tests for antibodies to identify those that already have been infected previously. In view of finite health care resources, health care providers are confronted with ethical considerations on how to prioritize access to care for individual patients as well as providing care for COVID-19 while not neglecting other life-threatening emergencies. In addition, protective measures against SARS-CoV‑2 gain particular significance for health care personnel ( HCP) in direct contact with patients suffering from COVID-19 as well as for ambulatory and hospitalized patients without infection. Owing to the unexpected need for large capacities of intensive care unit ( ICU) beds with the ability to provide respiratory support and mechanical ventilation, temporary redistribution and reorganization of resources within hospitals have become necessary with relevant consequences for all medical specialties. In the absence of vaccines or curative medical treatment, COVID-19 exerts an unprecedented global impact on public health and health care delivery. The SARS-CoV‑2 causing COVID-19 has reached pandemic levels since March 2020.
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