Even mild Covid infection causes heart problems: Report

A new research suggests that even mild Covid-19 can have long-term detrimental effects on cardiovascular health. The paper, published in the Journal of clinical medicine, revealed that Covid infection is associated with increased ageing of the arteries.
The study is the first to compare pre and post Covid-infection levels of arterial stiffness; a marker associated with the ageing and function of our arteries.

"The aftermath of the Covid infection, commonly known as long Covid, is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, and in extreme cases death," it said.


According to the researchers, even in those who had even mild Covid-19, artery and central cardiovascular function were affected by the disease two to three months after infection. "Side effects include stiffer and more dysfunctional arteries that could lead to cardiovascular disease development," it further said.

Dr. Maria Perissiou, co-author of the study from the University of Portsmouth's School of Sport, Health & Exercise Science, said, "We were surprised to observe such a decline in vascular health, which deteriorated even further with time since Covid-19 infection. Usually, you'd expect inflammation to decrease with time after infection, and for all the physiological functions to go back to normal or a healthy level."

"We can only speculate on what causes this phenomenon without further investigation, but emerging evidence suggests that it stems from Covid-19 triggering the auto-immune process that leads to vasculature deterioration."

The participants in the study were monitored between October 2019 and April 2022 in the laboratory for vascular ageing at the University of Split School of Medicine.

Most of the participants were aged less than 40-year-old, and healthy. Only 9% of the group had high blood pressure and none had high cholesterol. Two were diabetic, and 78% did not smoke. The group was split between males (56%) and females (44%).

Professor Ana Jeroncic from the University of Split, who led the study, said, "Given the number of people infected with Covid-19 worldwide, the fact that infection can have harmful effects on cardiovascular health in young people warrants close monitoring.

"The question remains as to whether this harmful effect is irreversible or permanent, and if not, for how long it lasts."

"This study, while small, does support the prediction amongst vascular physiologists that we'll have an increase in cardiovascular disease in the future as a result of Covid-19 infections. But we have to consider what other variables would have contributed to this increase," Dr. Perissiou added.