COVID-19 and cardiovascular disease: what have we learned?

As of 10 December, 82,127 citations were found in PubMed on COVID-19 and 5285 when “COVID-19 and cardiovascular disease” were used as search words. Many cardiovascular societies have also released statements regarding COVID-19. What have we learned from this incredible scientific excitement?

Cardiovascular aspects of COVID-19

In this review, findings and debates relating to the diverse aspects of cardiovascular involvement of COVID-19 are summarised and put into perspective. The authors review evidence for the role of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), the risk of pre-existing cardiovascular disease in COVID-19 susceptibility and course, and the mechanism of acute and long-term myocardial injury.

Use of valproate in pregnancy and in women of childbearing age between 2014 and 2018 in Switzerland: a retrospective analysis of Swiss healthcare claims data

As in most other European countries, the use of valproate in women of childbearing age in this study was higher than what the authors estimated to be indicated. This study demonstrates the value of electronic claims databases in the evaluation of drug exposure during pregnancy.

In the eye of the hurricane: the Swiss COVID-19 pandemic stepwise shutdown approach in organ donation and transplantation

The Swiss stepwise shutdown approach in organ donation and transplantation helped to maintain a limited national organ procurement and vital organ transplant activity, avoiding a complete nationwide shutdown of organ donation and transplant activity. 

SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 in patients on the Swiss national transplant waiting list

The impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on patients listed for solid organ transplantation has not been systematically investigated to date. The authors of this study assessed occurrence and effects of infections with SARS-CoV-2 on patients on the Swiss national waiting list for solid organ transplantation.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on acute coronary syndromes

Prolonged delays from symptom onset to first medical contact and a decline in overall ACS incidence were observed during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a higher threshold to call for help among ACS patients.

Early experimental COVID-19 therapies: associations with length of hospital stay, mortality and related costs

Prescribing experimental therapies for COVID-19 was not associated with a reduced length of hospital stay and might have increased the pressure put on healthcare systems.

Active clearance of chest tubes after cardiac surgery: a propensity score matched analysis

Chest tubes inserted to drain shed mediastinal blood after cardiac surgery often become clogged, limiting their capacity to evacuate blood, and leading to blood retention and retained blood syndrome. The aim of this study was the assessment of the efficacy of an active tube clearance system in the reduction of retained blood syndrome after cardiac surgery.

The Swiss STAR trial – an evaluation of target groups for sexually transmitted infection screening in the sub-sample of women

HIV and HCV do not appear to pose a major public health problem among female sex workers in Switzerland, whereas vaccination against HBV should be promoted. Female sex workers showed high rates of sexually transmitted infections requiring treatment to reduce transmission to clients and/or steady partners. Female sex workers should be offered low-cost or free STI screening as a public health priority.

The Swiss STAR trial – an evaluation of target groups for sexually transmitted infection screening in the sub-sample of men

Among men who have sex with men (MSM), but not among other multi-partner men, sexually transmitted infections, mostly asymptomatic, are common. Given the high risk of onward transmission, low-cost or free routine screening of multi-partner MSM is a public health priority.