Cardiovascular complications of respiratory viral infections

Despite significant progress in understanding the pathogenesis and treatment of viral diseases, the influenza virus alone causes up to three to five million severe cases and 250-500 thousand deaths annually. However, respiratory viruses can affect not only the respiratory system, but also cause complications in the cardiovascular system. For example, acute coronary syndrome, myocarditis, pericarditis, exacerbation of chronic heart failure, acute heart failure, pulmonary embolism, and arrhythmias. This review provides information on the incidence of cardiovascular complications that occurred in association with acute respiratory viral infections (COVID-19, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus infection, adenovirus, and rhinovirus infections), and the mechanisms of respiratory virus impact on the cardiovascular system. Understanding these mechanisms may allow to predict the potential cardiovascular complications in patients with respiratory infections and take prompt measures to prevent them as soon as possible especially in case of life-threatening events.