Physicians in Pune, India, are highlighting the importance of continued cardiac screening in recovered COVID-19 patients.
For example, consultant pathologist Keerthi Prakash Kotla, MD, told The Indian Times that high-risk patients should undergo certain medical imaging exams once every six months after recovering to ensure they show no new signs of heart damage or inflammation.
“ECG, X-Ray chest, and lipid profile should be repeated after six months in high-risk individuals with pre-existing conditions like diabetes and hypertension,” she said. “These tests will help to determine whether there is any damage to the heart.”
In the same story, cardiologist Pramod Narkhede, MBBS, DNB, noted that long-term heart problems such as chest pain, heart failure and arrhythmia appear to be on the rise among recovered COVID-19 patients. Each of these complications, he added, needs to be addressed immediately if detected.
“Many people experience shortness of breath, chest pain or palpitations,” Narkhede said. “Any of these problems could be related to the heart, but they could also be due to other factors, including the aftermath of being very ill, prolonged inactivity and spending weeks convalescing in bed.”
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Michael has more than 16 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.