evidence: COVID-19 was the third leading cause of death in the United States (USA) in 2020 after heart disease and cancer, with approximately 375,000 deaths.[34] [...] Patients with advanced age and comorbid conditions such as obesity, diabetes mellitus, chronic lung disease, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, chronic liver disease, and neoplastic conditions are at risk of developing severe COVID-19 and its associated complications. The most common complication of severe COVID-19 illness is progressive or sudden clinical deterioration leading to acute respiratory failure and ARDS or multiorgan failure leading to death. [...] Hessami A, Shamshirian A, Heydari K, Pourali F, Alizadeh-Navaei R, Moosazadeh M, Abrotan S, Shojaie L, Sedighi S, Shamshirian D, Rezaei N. Cardiovascular diseases burden in COVID-19: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Emerg Med. 2021 Aug;46:382-391. [PMC free article: PMC7561581] [PubMed: 33268238]