An expert panel led by the University of East Anglia (UEA) has issued a major clinical consensus statement warning of a serious and growing cardiovascular burden arising from COVID-19 and long COVID. The report, published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, says that millions of people globally are suffering from heart and blood vessel damage linked to both acute infection and longer-term sequelae, and neglecting this problem risks a continuing health crisis.
Key Findings: The Toll So Far
- COVID-19 is not just a respiratory disease. Even after recovery from the acute infection, individuals appear to face elevated risks of cardiovascular disease (CVD), including heart attack, stroke, arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms), heart failure, angina (chest pain), and autonomic dysfunction (problems with regulation of heart rate, blood pressure and other involuntary functions).
- Long COVID-persisting symptoms and health disturbances for weeks or months after infection- is now estimated to affect around 100 million people globally. Of these, approximately 5% are found to have cardiac long COVID – that is, cardiovascular symptoms or evidence of heart injury associated with the persistent syndrome.
- People who had more severe acute COVID (e.g. needing hospitalisation) are at increased risk, but even those with relatively mild disease are not immune to later cardiovascular complications.
- Vaccination appears to reduce the risk. Fully vaccinated individuals are far less likely to suffer both acute cardiovascular complications and long COVID cardiovascular problems.
Recommendations:
- Continue vaccination and booster programmes
- Early diagnosis and cardiac screening for long COVID patients
- Expand cardiac rehabilitation services
- Manage risk factors like diabetes, obesity, and hypertension
- Increase investment in rural and underserved areas
Experts stress that health systems must prepare for long-term cardiac care needs and that patients should watch for warning signs such as chest pain, palpitations, or breathlessness after COVID-19.