. 2021 Dec 15;17(5):63–72. doi: 10.14797/mdcvj.651

Table 1.

Recommendations for heart failure (HF) patient management to enhance safety and mitigate risk in the setting of COVID-19. MCS: mechanical circulatory support; IABP: intra-aortic balloon pump; ECMO: extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; VAD: ventricular assist device; LVAD: left VAD; INR: international normalized ratio.

RISKS	RECOMMENDATIONS

Patients with HF are at high risk of major complications HF may predispose to pulmonary complications in COVID-19 COVID-19 directly and indirectly increases the risk of cardiovascular complications	All HF patients should receive vaccination Guideline-directed medical therapy for HF should be continued when possible Beware of drug-to-drug interactions Multidisciplinary decision making is required for patients in shock needing MCS – IABP, temporary VAD or ECMO LVAD patients with COVID-19 need close monitoring of INR because of COVID-19–associated coagulopathy Heart transplant patients with COVID-19 need their immunosuppression regimen adjusted, monitoring for hematological abnormalities, and close follow-up

RISKS

RECOMMENDATIONS

Patients with HF are at high risk of major complications
HF may predispose to pulmonary complications in COVID-19
COVID-19 directly and indirectly increases the risk of cardiovascular complications

All HF patients should receive vaccination
Guideline-directed medical therapy for HF should be continued when possible
Beware of drug-to-drug interactions
Multidisciplinary decision making is required for patients in shock needing MCS – IABP, temporary VAD or ECMO
LVAD patients with COVID-19 need close monitoring of INR because of COVID-19–associated coagulopathy
Heart transplant patients with COVID-19 need their immunosuppression regimen adjusted, monitoring for hematological abnormalities, and close follow-up