Electrophysiology in the Era of Coronavirus Disease 2019.

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the novel betacoronavirus officially named by the WHO as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). It has spread rapidly globally since the first case reported in Wuhan, China in December 2019 and has now affected more than 12 million people worldwide, with varying fatality rates across different countries. The clinical presentation of COVID-19 is heterogeneous and varies from asymptomatic to severe pneumonia/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) requiring invasive mechanical ventilation. In addition, a hyperinflammatory state secondary to cytokine release syndrome leads to hypercoagulation, multiorgan failure and increased mortality.