ABC | Volume 114, Nº5, May 2020

Review Article Costa et al. The heart and COVID-19 Arq Bras Cardiol. 2020; 114(5):805-816 Telemedicine and cardiology Because of the exponential viral spread, social distancing has been determined as a key-factor to reduce the speed of spread by reducing person-to-person contact. The use of information technology, thus, is mandatory as an emergency response to environmental issues or biological risks. Telehealth enables remote triage, supports the diagnosis of diseases, and ensures access to routine care during an infectious disease outbreak. 65 In 2019, the Brazilian Medical Board published a decree defining telemedicine as the technology-mediated practice of medicine aimed at health care, education, research, prevention of diseases and injuries, and health promotion, regulating that practice . The Brazilian Society of Cardiology has issued a guideline on telemedicine applied to cardiology, also named telecardiology. Telecardiology by acting in health promotion, disease prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation, which impact the quality of life, can be considered an important ally of the health system, be it public, supplementary or private, to promote quality integral health care. The implementation of telecardiology is important to primary and specialized health care. 66 In cardiology, telemedicine can be useful to control risk factors, such as blood pressure and diabetes mellitus, to improve the lipid profile, to reduce weight, and to increase the success rate of smoking cessation programs. 66 At the current stage of pandemic control, telemedicine became a useful tool, especially for patients at high risk, reducing the exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and helping control comorbidities. OnMarch 19, 2020, the BrazilianMedical Board, in accordance Figure 4 - Cardiopulmonary resuscitation of patients with COVID-19. CRA: cardiorespiratory arrest; COVID-19: Coronavirus disease 2019; PPE: personal protective equipment; ACLS: Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support; FiO 2: fraction of inspired oxygen; RR: respiratory rate. 813