The risk of death increases substantially after age 60, in men and in overweight patients. Cardiac involvement, characterized by elevation of cardiac Troponin I and brain-like natriuretic peptide, is frequent in COVID-19 patients and is associated with a worse prognosis. Finally, right ventricular (RV) dilatation and dysfunction is the most common echocardiographic abnormality in patients with COVID-19, at least in part due to a substantial incidence of pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE). Cardiac abnormalities in COVID-19 patients include changes in heart rate and cardiac autonomic modulation, as well as systemic activation of inflammatory processes, with endothelial damage and involvement of the CV and respiratory systems.
The research program will examine imaging and clinical biomarkers associated with plasma and cellular determinants of cardiovascular disease, taking into account the potential effects of COVID-19 infection. This will make it possible to re-evaluate the cardiovascular risk profile of subjects with cardiovascular diseases.
