COVID-19 and cardiovascular disease: characteristic features in older patients.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a secondary infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The link between cardiovascular disease and COVID-19 appears to be twofold. First, some reports indicate that certain groups of patients are at greater risk of COVID-19, including patients with cardiovascular risk factors, pre-existing cardiovascular conditions and older patients. In addition, the outcomes these patients face are disproportionately more severe. Second, SARS-CoV-2 infection can be complicated by life-threatening acute cardiovascular diseases. Despite the rapid ongoing evolution of information about this pandemic, this review aims to highlight cardiovascular pathologies related to COVID-19 as either comorbidities, including concerns and uncertainty regarding the effect of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitors on angiotensin conversion enzyme 2, or cardiovascular complications.