Heart Disease and COVID-19 Are Locked in a Vicious Cycle—Help Keep Patients on Point

Patients with heart disease were identified early on in the COVID-19 pandemic as a population that was likely at risk for severe disease. At the same time, however, those same patients became less likely to follow through with cardiologists and primary care physicians over misaligned concerns that visiting healthcare professionals exposed them to greater risk of infection. That phenomenon is now being borne out in research. For example, an article published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology noted that deaths due to ischemic heart disease and hypertensive diseases in the U.S. increased as the pandemic progressed compared with the same period during the previous year. Simultaneously, testing for various cardiovascular diseases decreased. When taking histories for patients presenting for any complaint, be mindful that those with cardiovascular issues may not be up to date with specialty or primary care. Ensure that they’re aware of their increased risk with COVID-19, and that neglecting ongoing care for their chronic conditions could have devastating effects.