A healthy heart can lower the risk of severe COVID-19 symptoms, new research confirms
Though more and more people continue to get vaccinated, COVID-19 continues to be a significant healthcare issue all over the world. Taking care of your heart remains an effective way to avoid adverse COVID outcomes and make it through the ongoing pandemic in good health.
A team of researchers examined dozens of studies on this topic—84 in total—and shared its findings in European Heart Journal – Quality of Care & Clinical Outcomes.
“Many of the cardiovascular risk factors associated with more severe consequences from COVID-19 are potentially modifiable,” lead author Stephanie Harrison, BSc, MSc, PhD, of the University of Liverpool in the U.K., said in a prepared statement. “Clinicians and policy makers should consider that strategies which improve cardiovascular health may also improve outcomes for people following COVID-19.”
Focusing on 32 high-quality studies on the relationship between cardiovascular health and COVID-19, Harrison et al. determined that high blood pressure, a history of smoking cigarettes, obesity, diabetes, a history of stroke or cardiovascular disease, liver disease and kidney disease are all associated with a higher likelihood of especially severe COVID-19 outcomes. In fact, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease were all linked with doubling a patient’s risk of death from COVID-19.
“One possible explanation may be that cardiovascular disease, or its risk factors, may cause changes to pathways which impact the body’s ability to effectively respond to the virus,” Harrison added.
Among patients hospitalized with COVID-19, the researchers added, the rate of venous thromboembolism was 25%. High rates of pulmonary embolism (19%), arrhythmia (18%), myocardial injury (10%) and angina (10%) were also observed.
“Early in the pandemic, concerns were raised about the potential for COVID-19 to cause cardiovascular complications or exacerbate existing heart disease because of prior knowledge from influenza epidemics and outbreaks of other respiratory viruses,” Harrison said. “These findings suggest that these initial concerns were correct.”
Public Health England commission this analysis. Read the group’s full findings here.
Michael has more than 18 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.