The coronavirus disease is wreaking havoc on the health of communities throughout the world and may have lasting cardiac effects on those who have recovered from the virus. Early observations show that up to a third of patients who have been hospitalized with COVID-19 have evidence of heart involvement.

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In an article published online on June 26 in the journal Heart Rhythm, lead author Raul Mitrani, M.D., and co-authors with the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine’s Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, examine the varied cardiovascular injuries and complications that patients who have recovered from the acute COVID-19 infection may experience largely based on evidence from other viral infections or inflammatory injury to the heart. The authors also recommend developing screening and tracking measures to detect cardiac injury and potentially mitigate long-term impact.

“Our manuscript focused on potential mid- and long-term cardiovascular effects among patients who recovered from acute COVID-9 infection,” said Dr. Mitrani, professor of clinical medicine and director of clinical cardiac electrophysiology. “There is concern for patients having subtle or overt cardiovascular abnormalities in heart function or in cardiac rhythm disturbances.”