Cardiovascular Disorders as a Risk Factor for Severe Covid-19: A Systematic Literature Review

ObjectivesThis systematic review examined the relationship between cardiovascular disorders and severe COVID-19 outcomes.The study aimed to quantify the extent to which individuals with cardiovascular disorders are at risk of developing severe COVID-19 compared to those without these conditions. MethodologyA comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and the Cochrane Library databases.Keywords used included "COVID-19," "SARS-CoV-2," "coronavirus," "cardiovascular disorders," "hypertension," "coronary artery disease," "heart failure," "atrial fibrillation," "risk factor," and "severe."The search was limited to articles published between 2020 and 2023 and written in English.The quality of the studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment tool. ResultsAn initial search identified 3,059 studies (Google Scholar = 1,073; ScienceDirect = 752; PubMed = 1,234).After applying the eligibility criteria, 37 articles were selected for inclusion.Individuals with cardiovascular disorders were found to be significantly more likely to experience severe COVID-19 outcomes, with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.88 (95% CI: 1.32-2.70)for hospitalization and an OR of 3.576 (95% CI: 1.694-7.548)mortality.