Cardiac Manifestations of Post-Acute COVID-19 Infection
Khan O Mohammad1, Andrew Lin2, Jose B Cruz Rodriguez2
1Department of Internal Medicine, Dell Medical School at The University of Texas, 1500 Red River St., Austin, TX, 78701, USA. ko.mohammad@utexas.edu.
Insights
Long COVID can cause significant heart problems, including injury, arrhythmias, and heart failure, even in healthy individuals. Early detection and management are crucial for cardiovascular health after COVID-19 infection.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Immunology
Background:
- Emerging evidence links COVID-19 to long-term cardiovascular complications.
- Post-acute and chronic phases of COVID-19 present significant cardiovascular sequelae.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the cardiovascular sequelae associated with Long COVID.
- To explore the mechanisms and clinical manifestations of cardiac involvement in Long COVID.
Main Methods:
- Review of current scientific literature on COVID-19 and cardiovascular health.
- Analysis of findings related to myocardial injury, arrhythmias, and cardiomyopathies.
- Evaluation of the role of Cardiac MRI in diagnosis.
Main Results:
- Long COVID is associated with direct myocardial injury, arrhythmias, and cardiomyopathies.
- Mechanisms may involve viral infiltration and autoimmune dysregulation.
- New-onset heart failure and persistent cardiac ischemia can occur in previously healthy individuals.
Conclusions:
- Cardiovascular complications are a significant concern in Long COVID.
- Both patients with and without pre-existing cardiovascular disease are at risk.
- Further research is needed on cardiovascular mortality and rehabilitation.
Purpose Of Review:
There is emerging evidence that the post-acute and chronic phases of COVID-19 infection are associated with various significant cardiovascular sequelae.
Recent Findings:
Long COVID has been shown to be associated with multiple cardiovascular sequelae including direct myocardial injury, arrhythmias, and cardiomyopathies. Hypotheses on the mechanism of myocardial injury include direct viral infiltration and autoimmune dysregulation. Long COVID is associated with persistent cardiac ischemia in patients with no previous history of coronary disease, atrial and ventricular arrhythmias, and the development of new-onset heart failure in previously healthy patients. Onset of long COVID may be related to severity of the initial SARS-CoV2 infection. Cardiac MRI is a valuable tool in assessing myocarditis and the development of cardiomyopathies in the setting of long COVID. Both patients with and without pre-existing cardiovascular disease are at risk of developing myocardial injury in the setting of long COVID. Future studies will elucidate both cardiovascular mortality and cardiac rehabilitation in the post-acute and chronic phases of COVID-19.
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