COVID-19 in Adult Patients With Pre-Existing Chronic Cardiac, Respiratory, and Metabolic Disease: A Critical Literature Review With Clinical Recommendations

The review highlighted that the COVID-19 pandemic had a severe impact on patients with pre-existing chronic conditions, particularly older individuals with cardiovascular diseases like hypertension and coronary heart disease, who faced a higher risk of severe and fatal outcomes. The management of COVID-19 in these patients was complicated by debates over the use of certain medications, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. Obesity and diabetes were also identified as factors that increased the complexity of ICU management and disease severity, respectively. Additionally, the pandemic exacerbated challenges for patients with mental health disorders due to increased social isolation and reduced access to routine medical care. The review emphasized the need for future research to focus on protecting these vulnerable populations from future COVID-19 waves and mitigating the negative effects of pandemic-related healthcare disruptions.