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Vilaplana-Carnerero C, Giner-Soriano M, Dominguez À, Morros R, Pericas C, Álamo-Junquera D, Toledo D, Gallego C, Redondo A, Grau M. Atherosclerosis, Cardiovascular Disease, and COVID-19: A Narrative Review. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11041206. [PMID: 37189823 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11041206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory and degenerative process that mainly occurs in large- and medium-sized arteries and is morphologically characterized by asymmetric focal thickenings of the innermost layer of the artery, the intima. This process is the basis of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), the most common cause of death worldwide. Some studies suggest a bidirectional link between atherosclerosis and the consequent CVD with COVID-19. The aims of this narrative review are (1) to provide an overview of the most recent studies that point out a bidirectional relation between COVID-19 and atherosclerosis and (2) to summarize the impact of cardiovascular drugs on COVID-19 outcomes. A growing body of evidence shows that COVID-19 prognosis in individuals with CVD is worse compared with those without. Moreover, various studies have reported the emergence of newly diagnosed patients with CVD after COVID-19. The most common treatments for CVD may influence COVID-19 outcomes. Thus, their implication in the infection process is briefly discussed in this review. A better understanding of the link among atherosclerosis, CVD, and COVID-19 could proactively identify risk factors and, as a result, develop strategies to improve the prognosis for these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carles Vilaplana-Carnerero
- Fundació Institut Universitari per a la Recerca a l'Atenció Primària de Salut Jordi Gol i Gurina (IDIAPJGol), 08007 Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- School of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Maria Giner-Soriano
- Fundació Institut Universitari per a la Recerca a l'Atenció Primària de Salut Jordi Gol i Gurina (IDIAPJGol), 08007 Barcelona, Spain
- School of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Àngela Dominguez
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- Biomedical Research Consortium in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Rosa Morros
- Fundació Institut Universitari per a la Recerca a l'Atenció Primària de Salut Jordi Gol i Gurina (IDIAPJGol), 08007 Barcelona, Spain
- Biomedical Research Consortium in Infectious Diseases (CIBERINFEC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Carles Pericas
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- Epidemiology Service, Public Health Agency of Barcelona (ASPB), 08023 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Dolores Álamo-Junquera
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- Quality, Process and Innovation Direction, Vall d'Hebron Hospital Universitari, Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
- Health Services Research Group, Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Vall d'Hebron Hospital Universitari, Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Diana Toledo
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- Biomedical Research Consortium in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Carmen Gallego
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- Methodology, Quality and Medical Care Assessment Department, Direcció d'Atenció Primària Metropolitana Sud, Catalan Institute of Health (ICS), 08908 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ana Redondo
- Hospital Universitario Bellvitge, Catalan Institute of Health (ICS), 08907 Barcelona, Spain
| | - María Grau
- Biomedical Research Consortium in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Serra Húnter Fellow, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBAPS), 08036 Barcelona, Spain
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