Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19): Course and Long-term Consequences

Abstract

A new strain of coronavirus — SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CorOnaVirus-2) has caused an increase in the number of cases and high mortality worldwide. In patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19, Corona Virus Disease 19), in addition to lung damage, there is a high risk of developing multiple organ failure. Concomitant cardiovascular diseases are independent risk factors for the development of severe forms of COVID-19. Acute COVID-19 is manifested by polysegmental pneumonia, pulmonary edema, sepsis, atrial or ventricular fibrillation, acute myocardial injury, myocarditis, pericardial effusion, cardiac tamponade, and various thromboembolic disorders. COVID-19 can provoke chronic damage to the cardiovascular, nephro- and cerebrovascular systems, which worsen the patient's life prognosis. In persons who have undergone COVID-19, in the future, an increase in various cardiovascular complications, disorders of carbohydrate and purine metabolism, etc. can be expected. The article discusses the course and long-term consequences of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) based on the presented case series. The above observations of cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) demonstrate a variety of its clinical manifestations and outcomes, in which, along with damage to the lungs, there are also lesions of the cardiovascular, endocrine and urinary systems. Based on the accumulated experience in the management of patients, it is proposed to distinguish between acute (from 1 to 4 weeks), subacute (from 4 to 12 weeks) and chronic (from 12 weeks or more) forms. The use of this approach in real clinical practice facilitates the work of doctors in the outpatient-polyclinic stage of observation, reducing the social burden of the disease, routing patients, as well as stratification of persons suffering from COVID-19 for the development of pulmonary fibrosis.