COVID-19 May Cause Heart Problems in Those Who Had None Before, Coronavirus Study Finds

COVID-19 has been linked to heart problems even in those without preexisting cardiovascular conditions, according to a review of existing scientific studies. The authors of the paper published in the journal JAMA Cardiology looked at research on the new coronavirus named SARS-CoV-2 which causes COVID-19, as well on the seasonal flu, and other members of the coronavirus family: SARS and MERS.

They found COVID-19 may either cause new heart problems or worsen underlying issues. COVID-19 was associated with heart inflammation and there was a "high prevalence" of cardiac injury in patients hospitalized with the disease.

But the team noted "the severity, extent, and short-term vs long-term cardiovascular effects of COVID-19, along with the effect of specific treatments are not yet known, and are subject to close scrutiny and investigation."

Patients with milder COVID-19 cases who don't need hospitalization are less likely to encounter heart problems, they believe.

"It is reasonable to expect that severe and critical cases have more severe effects on the cardiovascular system owing to more robust inflammatory response," they wrote.

The three coronaviruses and the flu seemed to trigger heart problems including acute coronary syndrome (where the blood flow to the heart suddenly stops like in a heart attack), issues with heart rate, and heart failure. This is likely due to a combination of inflammation across the body as well as in the vascular system, the scientists explained.

"Importantly, during most influenza epidemics, more patients die of cardiovascular causes than pneumonia-influenza causes," the authors wrote.

The authors acknowledged the work was limited because it was based on the available data at the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, and mild and asymptomatic cases are likely missing from most reports "which further skews our understanding of the disease.

Lead author Dr. Mohammad Madjid, an assistant professor at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth in Houston said in a statement, "It is likely that even in the absence of previous heart disease, the heart muscle can be affected by coronavirus disease.

"Overall, injury to [the] heart muscle can happen in any patient with or without heart disease, but the risk is higher in those who already have heart disease."

Madjid told Newsweek, "We know very well that COVID-19 affects the lung and can cause complications, but this study shows that the cardiovascular system is also affected and its involvement can lead to poor outcomes and prognosis in these patients."

Madjid envisions the study will help researchers identify which patients are at risk of complications, and find new treatments for them.

He advised those with heart problems worried about COVID-19 to consult their cardiologist and "make sure you are compliant with all medications prescribed for you."

Over half a million people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 worldwide according to Johns Hopkins University and shown in the map by Statista below. Over 25,250 people have died, and almost 128,000 have recovered.