Thu. Mar 28th, 2024

According to a new study, as many as 75% of Covid-19 patients are likely to develop a heart condition which is independent of any pre-existing conditions. However, the study has used only a small sample for research and would need further and more extensive research to have a wider validation of its finding. The study which was published on Monday in the journal ‘JAMA Cardiology’ claimed that about 60% of those infected with Sars-Cov-2 virus had an ongoing myocardial inflammation (a condition in which a person experiences swelling of heart muscles).

In the study, about 100 recovered COVID-19 patients admitted at the University Hospital, Frankfurt’s Covid-19 registry between the period of April and June were used to analyse the cardiovascular effects in them after recovery. The technique of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging was used in the study.

The study stated, ” Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging revealed cardiac involvement in 78 patients (78%) and ongoing myocardial inflammation in 60 patients (60%), which was independent of preexisting conditions, severity and overall course of the acute illness, and the time from the original diagnosis”.

Dr Giridhara Babu, head, Life Course Epidemiology, Indian Institute of Public Health, Public Health Foundation of India commented, “It is a huge percentage, and looks like induced by virus or its after-effects such as inflammation. There is a need for large studies to reach a conclusion but that would require funding and access to data”.

Researchers so far have found a number of long-term health complications that could develop in patients of COVID-19 after recovery which are associated with kidneys, liver, eyes. Union health ministry’s technical wing has constituted a joint monitoring group known as Directorate General of Health Services which is chaired by Dr Rajiv Garg (who is the director-general health services) along with other specialist doctors from few reputed medical institutions. The objective of the group is to independently review clinical data so far available in order to manage the post-recovery health complications better by drafting appropriate guidelines.

Rajesh Bhushan, an officer on special duty of the health ministry said, “Our experts are working on putting a document together to guide people on what kind of long-term care would be required”.

   

 

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