Clinicians report that people with pre-existing conditions such as cardiac disease, hypertension, and diabetes are at higher risk of mortality from COVID-19. With tobacco smoking being the leading cause of preventable death worldwide, it is surprising that smokers are underrepresented in hospital records1. While hospital record data gives insight into the risk factors that influence … Read more
The opening session for AHA21 was nothing sort of inspirational. In the opening session, a quote by Dr. Keith Ferdinand, Professor of Medicine and Chair of Preventative Cardiology at Tulane University, really stuck with me. The topic was how is the field of medicine adjusting in the midst of the challenges faced and inequities uncovered … Read more
The past year has seen tremendous changes due to the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic across multiple levels. While behavioral changes and social isolation helped with limiting the spread of the disease, certain medications were studied and have been shown to be of benefit in COVID-19 patients. In this article, we summarize some of these medications, … Read more
Information on the survival trends of hospitalized COVID-19 patients is important for physicians to identify trends and track the efficacy of hospital-based care in real-world practice. The American Heart Association’s (AHA) COVID-19 Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Registry was put in place in April 2020 with the objective of improving nation-wide surveillance of hospitalized patients with COVID-19.1 … Read more
The COVID-19 pandemic has skyrocketed many fields of healthcare – basic science research, outcome-based research, and epidemiological factors affecting healthcare. We already know obesity affects >4 in 10 adults in the United States and contributes to diabetes, heart disease, ultimately leading to increased morbidity and mortality1. Based on prior experience, we have learned that obesity … Read more
The outbreak of COVID-19 has created a global public health crisis. Our knowledge continues to be limited about the protective factors of this infection. Therefore, preventive health measures that can reduce the risk of infection, and halt the progression and severity of symptoms and complications related to COVID-19 are desperately needed. In the midst of … Read more
Yes, we are still in the middle of the COVID pandemic. With the help of more people getting vaccinated and mask mandates in effect, a post-pandemic world is no longer a mere imagination. While waiting for the pandemic to be over, there are some doubts about whether the COVID vaccines should be cleared to facilitate … Read more
When news of the approval of the Pfizer vaccine surfaced, I felt a sense of anxiety. There was no data on pregnant women in the COVID-19 vaccine trials. As a medical professional, we have been trained to apply for evidenced-based medicine and baseline patient characteristics of trial participants to the patients we plan to treat. … Read more
Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) has been declared a pandemic by the world health organization (WHO) on March 11, 2020. Since the outbreak, the WHO reported more than 70 million confirmed cases, and 1.5 million deaths globally. In the US, nearly 300,000 lost their lives and currently, we are facing another surge of cases with a … Read more
2020 came, a pandemic hit, and 2020 left. It was an extraordinary year in which words such as unprecedented, exponential and social distancing forced their way into our ordinary vocabulary. Hopefully, we won’t have to live another year like that in our lifetimes, but let’s exercise some cautious optimism in that respect. It took a … Read more