COVID-19 and Respiratory System Disorders: Current Knowledge, Future Clinical and Translational Research Questions

Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2020 Nov;40(11):2586-2597. doi: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.120.314515. Epub 2020 Sep 22.

Abstract

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 emerged as a serious human pathogen in late 2019, causing the disease coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The most common clinical presentation of severe COVID-19 is acute respiratory failure consistent with the acute respiratory distress syndrome. Airway, lung parenchymal, pulmonary vascular, and respiratory neuromuscular disorders all feature in COVID-19. This article reviews what is known about the effects of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 infection on different parts of the respiratory system, clues to understanding the underlying biology of respiratory disease, and highlights current and future translation and clinical research questions.

Keywords: COVID-19; acute respiratory distress syndrome; diaphragm; infection; respiratory system; thromboembolism.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Betacoronavirus / pathogenicity*
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus Infections / diagnosis
  • Coronavirus Infections / physiopathology
  • Coronavirus Infections / therapy
  • Coronavirus Infections / virology*
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions
  • Humans
  • Lung / physiopathology
  • Lung / virology*
  • Pandemics
  • Pneumonia, Viral / diagnosis
  • Pneumonia, Viral / physiopathology
  • Pneumonia, Viral / therapy
  • Pneumonia, Viral / virology*
  • Prognosis
  • Pulmonary Embolism / physiopathology
  • Pulmonary Embolism / therapy
  • Pulmonary Embolism / virology
  • Respiration*
  • Respiration, Artificial
  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome / diagnosis
  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome / physiopathology
  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome / therapy
  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome / virology*
  • Respiratory Insufficiency / diagnosis
  • Respiratory Insufficiency / physiopathology
  • Respiratory Insufficiency / therapy
  • Respiratory Insufficiency / virology*
  • Risk Factors
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Translational Research, Biomedical*
  • Venous Thromboembolism / physiopathology
  • Venous Thromboembolism / therapy
  • Venous Thromboembolism / virology