COVID-19

Outside of the loss of human life due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the past two years have greatly affected hospitals, health systems and the way providers deliver care. Healthcare executives are grappling with federal monetary assistance, growing burnout rates, workforce shortages and federal oversight of vaccines and testing. This channel is also designed to update clinicians on new research and guidelines regarding COVID patient treatment strategies and risk assessments.

COVID-related myocarditis linked to significantly worse outcomes than non-COVID cases

The new study, published in Current Problems in Cardiology, included data from nearly 18,000 adult patients. 

An updated look at the risk of heart damage associated with 2 popular COVID-19 vaccines

The risk of developing vaccine-related myocarditis, pericarditis or myopericarditis remains very low, researchers wrote. 

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How the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted blood pressure management in the US

A new analysis of more than 137,000 patients found that the early months of the pandemic were associated with some concerning trends for hypertension patients. 

Heart disease-related deaths increased due to COVID-19, undoing a decade of progress

American Heart Association President Michelle A. Albert, MD, urged physicians to seek out patients who may have not received medical care since the start of the pandemic. These patients could face an increased risk of cardiac complications.

COVID-19 infections impact cardiovascular disease

Recent research has revealed that the medium and long-term impact of an acute illness may be associated with cardiovascular events, such as venous thromboembolism, stroke and myocardial infarction.

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Heart damage after COVID-19 vaccination extremely rare among adolescents

Vaccine-related myocarditis was seen in approximately 0.00005% of children between the ages of 12 and 15. All cases were mild, and the median length of stay at the hospital was three days. 

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COVID-19 drug Paxlovid may react poorly with certain heart medications, cardiologists warn

Nirmatrelvir-ritonavir, sold by Pfizer under the name Paxlovid, is commonly prescribed to treat COVID-19. When treating some heart patients, however, physicians may want to consider an alternative approach.

New evidence that heart damage risk is much higher after COVID-19 infection than after vaccination

The new meta-analysis, published in Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine, included data from 58 million patients. “We hope our findings will help mitigate vaccine hesitancy and increase vaccine uptake," one researcher said. 

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