Lifestyle Modification in Cardiac Patient in COVID 19 Pandemic Time

Abstract

The SARS-CoV 2 causing COVID-19 has reached pandemic levels since March 2020. In the absence of vaccines or curative medical treatment, COVID-19 exerts an unprecedented global impact on public health and health care delivery. Owing to the unexpected need for large capacities of intensive care unit (ICU) beds with the ability to provide respiratory support and mechanical ventilation, temporary redistribution and reorganization of resources within hospitals have become necessary with relevant consequences for all medical specialties. In addition, protective measures against SARS-CoV 2 gain particular significance for health care personnel (HCP) in direct contact with patients suffering from COVID-19 as well as for ambulatory and hospitalized patients without infection. In view of finite health care resources, health care providers are confronted with ethical considerations on how to prioritize access to care for individual patients as well as providing care for COVID-19 while not neglecting other life-threatening emergencies. Of note, assays to detect the virus in asymptomatic and symptomatic patients have important limitations in terms of sensitivity and specificity and will be complemented by tests for antibodies to identify those that already have been infected previously.