COVID-19 is an infection caused by a new coronavirus strain that has resulted in a global spread. Our understanding of this condition is improving with increasing scientific evidence. So far, we know that elderly patients and those with heart problems are at increased risk of getting the virus and having worse outcomes. Furthermore, evidence suggests that in some cases this infection has a detrimental effect on the heart muscle, which in turn is associated with worse outcomes. The frequency of this problem and the underlying mechanisms are not well understood.
We propose a project to determine how common and serious are heart problems in patients with COVID-19 through analysis of blood tests and health information data on all consecutive patients who presented to hospital in NHS Lothian and were tested for suspected COVID-19. This project will allow us to determine the need for additional investigations and inform clinical care.
