COVID-19 can induce life-threatening cardiac problems. According to studies, patients with COVID-19 are 55% more likely to have a significant cardiovascular event, such as a heart attack, stroke, or death, than those without the virus.

Moreover, they are more susceptible to myocarditis and other cardiac conditions, such as arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms) (inflammation of the heart muscle).

Andrew Marks, a cardiologist and professor of biophysics at Columbia University, Steven Reiken, a research scientist in Marks’ lab, and his colleagues have explored some of the cardiac abnormalities that may contribute to these disorders.

Reiken will talk about their work at the 67th Annual Biophysical Society Meeting in San Diego, California, on Monday, February 20.

In COVID-19-infected patients’ cardiac tissue, the researchers noticed increases in oxidative stress (harmful formation of unstable chemicals) and inflammatory markers, as well as calcium changes.

They also found terrible changes in a protein called RyR2, which is in charge of controlling the levels of calcium ions in the heart. Like other muscle cells, the heart muscle requires calcium ions to contract.

The way the heart handles calcium ions is important for the atria and ventricles to work together to pump blood throughout the body. When calcium levels in the heart are out of balance, it can lead to irregular heartbeats or heart failure.

They used a COVID-19-infected mouse to learn more about the changes in the heart. They saw changes in the heart tissue, such as immune cells moving in, collagen building up (which is a sign of injury), heart cells dying, and blood clots.

They also looked at changes to the heart proteome, which is made up of the proteins that heart cells make. They found patterns that were similar to changes seen in human hearts that were infected with COVID-19, as well as signs of cardiomyopathy, which makes it harder for the heart to pump blood to the body and can lead to heart failure.

According to Marks, “doctors should be aware of heart changes related to COVID-19 infections and should be looking for them.”

To better evaluate and treat cardiac symptoms associated with COVID-19, medical providers may benefit from a deeper understanding of the molecular changes at play.

Also, knowing about COVID-19’s heart problems can help public health officials make better decisions about how to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, especially when it comes to giving advice to people who are more likely to have heart problems.

Image Credit: Getty