COVID-19

Outside of the loss of human life due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the past two years have greatly affected hospitals, health systems and the way providers deliver care. Healthcare executives are grappling with federal monetary assistance, growing burnout rates, workforce shortages and federal oversight of vaccines and testing. This channel is also designed to update clinicians on new research and guidelines regarding COVID patient treatment strategies and risk assessments.

Overview of the pathophysiological mechanisms associated with arrhythmogenesis in the setting of COVID-19 infection. Image from Circulation.

AHA issues a scientific statement on COVID-19 cardiac arrhythmias

The objective of the AHA scientific statement is to review the available evidence on for better management of cardiac arrhythmias from COVID causes that are still encountered on a regular basis.

COVID from a patient's nasal passage. Transmission electron micrograph of SARS-CoV-2 virus particles (gold) within endosomes of a heavily infected nasal olfactory epithelial cell. Image captured at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Maryland. Image courtesy of NIAID. What does COVID look like?

History of COVID-19 doubles long-term risk of heart attack, stroke or death

A patient's blood type appears to play a major role in their odds of developing cardiovascular issues after COVID-19, researchers found. 

Monitoring acute heart patients at home linked to considerable cost savings

The new report could go on to help guide decisions made by CMS and hospital leadership teams for years to come.

Nemours Children's Hospital pediatric cardiologists explain lessons learned about cardiac involvement and long-term issues from multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), a rare but serious disease caused by exposure to the COVID-19 virus. #MIS-C #COVID #coronavirus #SARSCoV2

A key update on how COVID-19 caused dangerous MIS-C inflammation in children

The rise of MIS-C during the COVID-19 pandemic alarmed physicians and patients alike, and the exact cause was unclear. Now, new NIH-funded research appears to provide some answers.

physician tracking patient data and reporting on outcomes

Q&A: Cardiologist Karen Joynt Maddox on why new healthcare policies are not improving outcomes

Healthcare's ongoing shift toward value-based care is a good thing, Joynt Maddox explained, but its implementation has been far from ideal. She also discussed population health, the pandemic, health disparities and the rising influence of private equity investments.

COVID-19 vaccine vaccination myocarditis heart damage inflammation RSNA imaging radiology cardiology

COVID-19 vaccines helped heart failure patients stay out of the hospital and live longer

Vaccination was linked to key benefits in terms of all-cause mortality, heart failure hospitalizations, stroke, heart attack, myocarditis, venous thromboembolism and testing positive for COVID-19. 

COVID-19 vaccine vaccination myocarditis heart damage inflammation RSNA imaging radiology cardiology

‘Highly effective’: COVID-19 vaccines reduced risk of heart failure, other cardiovascular complications after infection

Researchers explored data from more than 20 million adults for the new study, tracking both short- and long-term outcomes. 

Multiple factors can interfere with pulse oximetry accuracy including skin pigmentation. Multiple studies have shown the inaccuracy of current pulse oximeters in patients with darker skin tones than whites, often over estimating their oxygenation when in fact they are hypoxic. Images courtesy of Masimo.

Inaccurate pulse oximeter readings impact Black heart failure patients and FDA plans to address this

Black patients are already less likely to receive LVADs or transplants compared to whites, and these inaccurate readings can further widen the disparities.

Around the web

Several key trends were evident at the Radiological Society of North America 2024 meeting, including new CT and MR technology and evolving adoption of artificial intelligence.

Ron Blankstein, MD, professor of radiology, Harvard Medical School, explains the use of artificial intelligence to detect heart disease in non-cardiac CT exams.