Cardiological complications in the course of influenza and COVID-19

<ns3:p>Cardiac complications associated with the acute or chronic form of influenza and COVID-19 infection occur in <10% of cases. They may affect pericardium, myocardium or coronary arteries which finally results in heart failure or in case of pericarditis – fluid in the pericardium and tamponade risk. A relationship has been demonstrated between influenza epidemics and an increased incidence of acute coronary syndromes. An important complication of influenza infection may be myocarditis and subsequent heart failure. Arrhythmias, in various forms and with varying degrees of severity, can occur at any stage of the disease. The possibility of sudden deaths in the course of influenza virus infection has been reported. The treatment of a patient with cardiovascular involvement should be multidirectional: causal, symptomatic and prophylactic in the aspect of heart failure prevention. The knowledge about cardiovascular complications in the course of SARS-CoV-2 infection is increasing. Despite the possibility of using antiviral drugs in treatment, prevention by vaccination still remains the most effective therapeutic method.</ns3:p>