3. COVID-19 and mental health
COVID-19 affected not only physical but also mental health. Patients,
medical staff, and the general public were under insurmountable
psychological pressure. At present, it was relevant to study the means
to reduce the psychological pressure associated with the COVID-19
pandemic in susceptible groups. The role of mental stress and emotional
level in the development of arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death cannot
be ignored. Of late, advances in molecular cardiology have determined
the role of mutations of cardiomyocyte ion channels in
arrhythmia-induced death. Negative emotional reactions may increase the
risk of CVD events. Myocardial ischemia triggered by mental stress
manifests with increased catecholamine concentration and increased
sympathetic nerve activity, resulting in reduced coronary blood flow and
ischemic changes in electrocardiograph [20]. Together, these
considerations reinforce the notion that the mental state of COVID-19
patients and frontline medical workers merits substantial attention.
Appropriate psychological crisis intervention and psychological problem
relief measures may have an essential role in the management of
COVID-19. On the one hand, these approaches may improve clinical
outcomes. On the other hand, they also provide first-line medical
workers and the general public with psychological defense mechanisms.
Therefore, active and effective intervention aiming at mental diseases
and psychological conditions may mitigate CVD caused by COVID-19-related
mental and psychological problems.