Figure 1
Global Map of COVID-19 pandemic by region; adapted from World Heart Federation Briefing on Prevention: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Low-Income Countries [4] and Management of Cardiovascular Disease Patients With Confirmed or Suspected COVID-19 in Limited Resource Settings [5].
Figure 2
COVID-19 research output (in percentage) – Bibliometric analysis of the WHO COVID-19 research database.
| Regions | N | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| European Region | 25,145 | 52.1 |
| North America | 19,271 | 39.9 |
| Western Pacific Region | 1,671 | 3.5 |
| South-East Asia Region | 882 | 1.8 |
| South America | 683 | 1.4 |
| Eastern Mediterranean Region | 432 | 0.9 |
| African Region | 187 | 0.4 |
| Total | 48,271 | 100.0 |
[i] N = total number of original research publications.
Data source: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/global-research-on-novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov.
* Search strategy run on 04 February 2021 with no restriction to language, publication year or journal/database. We only included original research studies related to risk factors, prognostic, diagnostic, aetiology, and observational studies, case report, screening study, prevalence, incidence, randomized trials, implementation research, qualitative research or health economic evaluations.
Table 1
Study measures and correlating data collection source for WHF Global study on COVID-19 and CVD.
| Study Measure | Details | Data collection source |
|---|---|---|
| PART 1: ENTRY FORM | ||
| Demographics | Age, sex, ethnicity, education, smoking status, pregnancy status | eCRF & hospital records |
| COVID-19 symptom onset and admission vital signs | Symptom onset, admission date, temperature, oxygen, respiratory rate, blood pressure, height, weight, waist circumference, shortness of breath | eCRF & hospital records |
| Comorbidities (cardiovascular related prior to admission) | Coronary artery disease, stroke, peripheral vascular disease, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, cardiomyopathies, rheumatic heart disease, chagas disease, valvular disease, hypertension, diabetes | eCRF & hospital records |
| Comorbidities (non-cardiac related prior to admission) | Chronic pulmonary disease, asthma, tuberculosis, HIV, renal replacement therapy, chronic kidney disease | eCRF & hospital records |
| Cardiovascular medication (Pre-admission) | Beta-blockers, alpha blockers, diuretics, ACE-inhibitors, anti-coagulants, anti-platelets, ARB, calcium antagonists, aldosterone antagonists, endocarditis prophylaxis, nitrates, statins | eCRF & hospital records |
| Non-cardiovascular medication (Pre-admission) | Anti-diabetic drugs, NSAIDS, allopurinol, anti-depressants, anti-retroviral therapy, influenza vaccine in the past 6 months | eCRF & hospital records |
| Laboratory tests on admission | Complete blood count, liver function tests, kidney function tests, cardiac biomarkers (Troponin-T, I, NT proBNP, CK-MB), lipids | eCRF & Lab reports |
| Examinations | ECG, ECHO, Chest-X-ray, CT-Scan Anonymized ECG data will be uploaded to a web-based platform to be read and codified in a centralized reading centre by experienced and certified cardiologists. | eCRF & hospital records |
| Medications during hospitalization | Intravenous fluids, antivirals, ACE-I, ARB, NSAIDS, antibiotics, anti-malarial agent, anti-fungal agent, corticosteroids | eCRF & hospital records |
| Supportive care during hospitalization | ICU admission, oxygen therapy, non-invasive and invasive ventilation, inotropes, extracorporeal support | eCRF & hospital records |
| PART 2: OUTCOME FORM | ||
| At discharge | Blood pressure, heart rate, time in ICU, cardiovascular events, acute respiratory distress syndrome, pneumonia, acute renal injury, liver dysfunction, death (cause of death) | eCRF & discharge summary |
| 30-day follow-up | Vital stats (alive or death), re-hospitalization, recovery from COVID-19 | Phone or clinic visit |
| Hospital and Provider level information | Hospital facilities (hospital beds, ICU, ventilators), availability of services (ECG, ECHO, x-ray, CT-scan, cardiac cath lab) human resources (cardiologists, pulmonologists, infectious disease specialists) | Hospital records |
[i] ACEi = angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, ARB = angiotensin II receptor blocker, ECG = electrocardiogram, ICU = intensive care unit, NSAIDS = non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.