Cardiac complications of COVID-19 infection

Sharan Randhawa1, Ammar J Alsamarrai2, Simon Lee3

  • 1House Officer, Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand, Counties Manukau, Cardiology Department, Middlemore Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand.

Insights

COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) significantly increases the risk of serious cardiac complications, including heart attack and heart failure. Vigilance for these cardiovascular issues is crucial, especially in high-risk patients.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Public Health

Background:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has been associated with various cardiovascular complications.
  • Early data on cardiac risks were limited by small sample sizes and focus on severe cases.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the association between COVID-19 and cardiovascular complications.
  • To provide updated risk estimates for cardiac issues in COVID-19 patients.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent, larger studies investigating COVID-19 and cardiovascular outcomes.
  • Analysis of reported incidence of specific cardiac complications.

Main Results:

  • COVID-19 patients face elevated risks of myocardial infarction, myocarditis, venous thromboembolism, arrhythmias, and heart failure exacerbation.
  • A significant subset of patients experience persistent symptoms post-acute infection, known as "long COVID".

Conclusions:

  • COVID-19 is linked to a broad spectrum of cardiovascular complications.
  • Clinicians must maintain awareness of potential cardiac issues during acute COVID-19 illness, particularly in vulnerable populations.

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