Is the risk of heart attack more severe for those infected with Covid?

The effects of COVID-19 can be subtle and easily confused with common colds or flu, particularly as widespread vaccination and previous infections have generally reduced symptom severity. However, a crucial distinction lies in the virus's potential to silently harm the cardiovascular system.

A recent study by American scientists, published last week, tracked 10,000 individuals in the UK who contracted COVID-19 during the initial pandemic wave. The research revealed that these individuals faced double the risk of heart attack, stroke, or death in the subsequent three years compared to those who remained uninfected. For patients whose Covid-19 case required hospitalisation, this risk increased fourfold.

Although these findings primarily pertain to early pandemic infections, before vaccine availability, they have raised significant concerns among medical experts. This is despite the study's focus on pre-vaccination cases.

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“The problem is that the heart simply cannot repair itself, so any damage is there for life,” says Angela Clerk, a professor of biomedical sciences at the University of Reading, according to The Telegraph. She added, “It is also a robust organ that tends to not give much indication it is failing until it is too late, so, in my view, it could be many years before we can assess how much additional damage was done to people’s hearts by the Covid pandemic.”

Recent research indicates that a COVID-19 infection might elevate the risk of heart attacks for up to three years post-infection. The virus is known to affect the heart through various mechanisms.

One way Covid-19 can impact cardiovascular health is by causing abnormal blood clotting. Prof Jon Gibbins, from the University of Reading's Institute for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research, explains that this may be due to antibodies inadvertently triggering unnecessary clotting.

Another concern is myocarditis, or heart inflammation, which affects approximately one in eight hospitalised Covid patients. This condition can result from the virus directly attacking heart muscle cells or from an overactive immune response to the infection. Severe cases of myocarditis may increase vulnerability to heart attacks.

Severe Covid infections can damage the lungs, forcing the heart to work harder to oxygenate blood. Prof Clerk notes that while the heart can adapt short-term, prolonged stress may lead to heart failure.

It's important to note that most Covid cases are asymptomatic or mild, with no known long-term complications. To protect heart health, Prof Clerk recommends adopting a healthy lifestyle. This includes quitting smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, managing stress, and moderating alcohol consumption. She emphasises the importance of heart care, stating, "You have only one heart that has to last your lifetime, so you need to look after it."