Patient/caregiver was educated on complications of COVID-19 as follows:
Older people, especially individuals with compromised immunity, and individuals with underlying poorly managed serious health conditions, such as, heart disease, diabetes, COPD, oxygen dependency seem to be at higher risk for developing life-threatening complications due to COVID-19 infection.
Complications of COVID-19 infection could include:
- Pneumonia and trouble breathing: Damage to the lung tissue due to COVID-19 infection can lead to pneumonia and trouble breathing.
- Respiratory failure: Poorly performing lungs from COVID-19 infection can lead to increased effort of breathing and in severe cases, can result in respiratory failure.
- Secondary bacterial and fungal infections: Reduced oxygen availability and increased carbon-dioxide content in the body due to compromised exchange of gases by poorly performing lungs can contribute to growth of opportunistic bacteria and fungi, resulting in severe unyielding opportunistic infections.
- Multiple organ failure: Compromised oxygen availability due to poorly performing lungs can result in poor supply of much needed oxygen for vital organs to function. This can lead to failure of multiple organs in the body, such as, heart, kidneys, and brain, resulting in corresponding findings of congestive heart failure, acute renal failure, stroke, and/or seizures. Individuals with prior history of compromised organ function, such as, individuals with CHF, renal failure, stroke, and/or seizure can increasingly present with worsening of corresponding symptoms due to COVID infection.
- Cardiac arrhythmias: Worsening heart function from reduced oxygen availability can lead to rhythm disturbances and result in arrhythmias.
- Blood clots: Poorly regulated heart rhythm is a serious risk factor for formation of blood clots. COVID-19 infected individuals can be at increased risk for blood clot formation due to the heightened chances for cardiac arrhythmias to occur.
