History of COVID-19 doubles long-term risk of heart attack, stroke or death

COVID from a patient's nasal passage. Transmission electron micrograph of SARS-CoV-2 virus particles (gold) within endosomes of a heavily infected nasal olfactory epithelial cell. Image captured at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Maryland. Image courtesy of NIAID. What does COVID look like?

COVID increases cardiovascular events, especially in patients who are not blood type O. Image shows SARS-CoV-2 virus (gold) within endosomes of a heavily infected nasal olfactory epithelial cell. Image courtesy of NIAID.

A patient's blood type appears to play a major role in their odds of developing cardiovascular issues after COVID-19, researchers found. 

Cardiologists perform world’s first substernal lead extraction

Cardiologists have performed what they believe to be the world’s first substernal lead extraction, sharing their experience in JACC: Case Reports.[1]The device being extracted, Medtronic’s Aurora EV-ICD, received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in October 2023.

(A) The patient’s chest. (B) Radiograph showing the device position. Images/captions courtesy of Bodin et al. and JACC: Case Reports.

The 49-year-old patient was not in pain or suffering any complications, but he wished to have his extravascular ICD removed once his symptoms improved. The care team agreed to extract it after a long discussion, and they said it was "easier than expected."