COVID-19 pandemic and cardiac imaging: EACVI recommendations on precautions, indications, prioritization, and protection for patients and healthcare personnel

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has created new and unpredictable challenges for modern medicine and healthcare systems. Preliminary reports have demonstrated that older age, previous cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and hypertension are risk factors for increased mortality.1 Data on the cardiac affinity of the virus and its potential to harm the cardiovascular system and the mechanisms by which this occurs are sparse.2,3A systemic infection generally increases demand on the heart, and can exacerbate underlying cardiac conditions. When the lungs are heavily involved, as seen in COVID-19 patients, this may have a major impact on cardiac function, particularly that of the right ventricle. Finally, COVID-19 may have direct effects on the heart, as may some drugs being used in its treatment. [...]