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. 2023 Feb 14;25(Suppl A):A42-A49.
doi: 10.1093/eurheartjsupp/suac123. eCollection 2023 Feb.

The impact of COVID-19 and COVID vaccination on cardiovascular outcomes

Zubair Akhtar  1   2 , Mallory Trent  1 , Aye Moa  1 , Timothy C Tan  3   4   5 , Ole Fröbert  6   7   8   9 , C Raina MacIntyre  1
Affiliations

The impact of COVID-19 and COVID vaccination on cardiovascular outcomes

Zubair Akhtar et al. Eur Heart J Suppl. .

Abstract

COVID-19 is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. COVID-19 vaccination may prevent this, but in some cases, COVID-19 vaccination may cause myocarditis or pericarditis. Patients with COVID-19 may present with non-specific symptoms that have a cardiac origin. This review examines the cardiovascular complications of COVID-19 infection and the impact of COVID-19 vaccination. COVID-19 cardiovascular complications include myocardial injury, pericarditis, coagulopathy, myocardial infarction, heart failure, arrhythmias, and persistent post-acute risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Diagnostic and referral pathways for non-specific symptoms, such as dyspnoea and fatigue, remain unclear. COVID-19 vaccination is cardioprotective overall but is associated with myopericarditis in young males, though at a lower rate than following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Increased awareness among primary care physicians of potential cardiovascular causes of non-specific post-COVID-19 symptoms, including in younger adults, such as fatigue, dyspnoea, and chest pain, is essential. We recommend full vaccination with scheduled booster doses, optimal management of cardiovascular risk factors, rapid treatment of COVID-19, and clear diagnostic, referral, and management pathways for patients presenting with non-specific symptoms to rule out cardiac complications.

Keywords: COVID-19; Cardiovascular; Heart; SARS-CoV-2; Vaccines.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: C.R.M. and O.F. have received funding from Sanofi for investigator driven research on influenza, influenza vaccines and cardiovascular disease in the past 5 years. C.R.M. is on the WHO COVID-19 Vaccine Composition Technical Advisory Group.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Overview of mechanisms by which SARS-CoV-2 can affect the heart.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Approaches to the prevention and management of cardiovascular disease complications.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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