Table 1.

Contributing factors to impaired cardiorespiratory function in COVID-19 patients

  • Infection

    • viral

    • bacterial

    • fungal.

  • Left heart dysfunction/rhythm disturbances.

  • Hyper-/hypovolaemia.

  • Thrombosis

    • in situ

    • embolic.

  • Immunological response (humoral and cellular).

  • Right heart dysfunction.

  • Myocarditis.

  • Pulmonary hypertension

    • hypoxia

    • vasoconstriction

    • thrombosis

    • vascular remodelling

    • acute lung injury with loss of gas transfer area

    • pre-existing conditions.

  • Pre-morbid cardiorespiratory diseases and medication.

  • Evolving pulmonary fibrosis.

  • Current medical comorbidities eg other organ dysfunction.

  • Consequences of mechanical ventilatory support.