Commentary: Cause for concern or 1 in 33 million?

• Authors: Gaetano Paone, Emory University
• Journal Title: JTCVS Techniques
• Volume: Volume 4
• Publisher: Elsevier | 2020-12-01, Pages 114-115
• Type of Work: Article | Final Publisher PDF
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.xjtc.2020.10.033
• Subjects: Biology, Virology; Health Sciences, Immunology; Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery
• Keywords: COVID-19; death rate; lung involvement; severity; respiratory distress syndrome (adult); cardiac manifestation

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases worldwide exceed 33 million, with more than 1 million deaths. In the United States alone, more than 7 million cases and more than 200,000 deaths have been reported.1 Primary lung involvement predominates, and disease severity ranges widely from asymptomatic subclinical infection to severe and potentially fatal respiratory distress syndrome. An associated coagulopathy seemingly mimics disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, with related thrombotic events, most commonly venous thromboembolism including pulmonary embolus.2,3 Cardiac manifestations, including arrhythmias, acute myocardial injury, and myocarditis, have been increasingly recognized and reported