Interactive Journal of Medical Research (Jul 2024)

Cardiovascular Comorbidities in COVID-19: Comprehensive Analysis of Key Topics

  • Rene Markovič,
  • Luka Ternar,
  • Tim Trstenjak,
  • Marko Marhl,
  • Vladimir Grubelnik

DOI
https://doi.org/10.2196/55699
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13
p. e55699

Abstract

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BackgroundThe interrelation between COVID-19 and various cardiovascular and metabolic disorders has been a critical area of study. There is a growing need to understand how comorbidities such as cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and metabolic disorders affect the risk and severity of COVID-19. ObjectiveThe objective of this study is to systematically analyze the association between COVID-19 and cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. The focus is on comorbidity, examining the roles of CVDs such as embolism, thrombosis, hypertension, and heart failure, as well as metabolic disorders such as disorders of glucose and iron metabolism. MethodsOur study involved a systematic search in PubMed for literature published from 2000 to 2022. We established 2 databases: one for COVID-19–related articles and another for CVD-related articles, ensuring all were peer-reviewed. In terms of data analysis, statistical methods were applied to compare the frequency and relevance of MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) terms between the 2 databases. This involved analyzing the differences and ratios in the usage of these terms and employing statistical tests to determine their significance in relation to key CVDs within the COVID-19 research context. ResultsThe study revealed that “Cardiovascular Diseases” and “Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases” were highly relevant as level 1 Medical Subject Headings descriptors in COVID-19 comorbidity research. Detailed analysis at level 2 and level 3 showed “Vascular Disease” and “Heart Disease” as prominent descriptors under CVDs. Significantly, “Glucose Metabolism Disorders” were frequently associated with COVID-19 comorbidities such as embolism, thrombosis, and heart failure. Furthermore, iron deficiency (ID) was notably different in its occurrence between COVID-19 and CVD articles, underlining its significance in the context of COVID-19 comorbidities. Statistical analysis underscored these differences, highlighting the importance of both glucose and iron metabolism disorders in COVID-19 research. ConclusionsThis work lays the foundation for future research that utilizes a knowledge-based approach to elucidate the intricate relationships between these conditions, aiming to develop more effective health care strategies and interventions in the face of ongoing pandemic challenges.