COVID-19 and long COVID have left a major toll on cardiovascular health. A new report has confirmed that millions of people are suffering from its consequences. The report outlines strategies for addressing this growing problem through diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and vaccination.
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European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.
Millions suffering
(Pic courtesy: iStock)
The new study has set out recommendations on diagnosing, treating, and preventing serious heart and blood vessel complications linked to the COVID-19 virus. It stresses continuing the vaccination programmes and recommends structured cardiac rehabilitation to prevent long-term problems after infection and boost long Covid recovery. The study was led by Prof Vassilios Vassiliou from UEA and the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), and recommendations were made by a group of experts from across Europe.
“The COVID pandemic has had a profound and lasting impact on our health, with complications emerging during acute illness and recovery. Millions of people around the world are suffering from serious cardiovascular problems caused by COVID-19 infection and long COVID. A lack of clear evidence-based guidance on how to reduce this suffering and prevent further harm means that patients are not receiving the care they need, and some are turning to unproven or unsafe treatments. We wanted to change that,” Prof Vassiliou, from UEA’s Norwich Medical School, said in a statement.
About one billion people are reported to be infected with the virus globally, and the true number is believed to be much higher than that. Studies have shown that
COVID patients, especially those who required hospitalization, have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, including heart attack, stroke, and death from cardiovascular disease.
Shocking data shows that around 100 million people are currently living with long COVID. Of this, about 5% have cardiac long Covid, with symptoms including angina (chest pain), breathlessness, arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm), heart failure, fatigue, and dizziness.
Long Covid is also linked to autonomic dysfunction, where the nerves that normally control heart rate, breathing, and body temperature do not work properly.
The relevance of the new research
To understand the impact of COVID on cardiac function, the researchers reviewed all existing research on the virus and cardiovascular disease, including the effects of an acute infection, long COVID, and COVID vaccination. Using this research, they made a set of recommendations for how to treat or prevent the damaging cardiovascular effects of COVID.
This major report advises continuing vaccination, because fully vaccinated people are far less likely to suffer cardiac complications or long Covid, even if they contract the virus. The report also shows how to diagnose and treat the symptoms linked to COVID, such as shortness of breath, chest pain, and fainting.
Cardiac rehabilitation is vital
The paper emphasizes structured cardiac rehabilitation programmes, including specialised physiotherapy, to prevent long-term problems from developing following infection and to aid recovery from long COVID.
“Covid doesn’t just affect the lungs. It can also damage the heart and blood vessels, both during the acute infection and for months afterward. This means chest pain, breathlessness, palpitations, or fatigue may be signs of cardiac long Covid,” Prof Vassiliou said.
“If you already have heart disease, Covid raises your risk of serious complications both immediately and long after infection. In both cases, rehabilitation can protect your heart and support recovery. Our report provides unified, practical recommendations for prevention, rehabilitation, and long-term care, while also identifying critical research gaps to ensure strategies continue to evolve with emerging evidence.”
They also stressed the importance of equal access to cardiac rehabilitation programmes, especially for people living in rural locations.
“At present, the capacity of rehabilitation services across much of Europe is insufficient to accommodate both conventional cardiac patients and those with cardiac long Covid. There are also significant regional variations. Targeted financial investment and resource allocation are therefore required to expand service capacity and ensure equitable access. Unfortunately, even now, cardiac long COVID continues to affect the quality of life for many patients. We need to ensure patients have equitable access to rehabilitation services, support primary prevention through vaccination and lifestyle programmes, and fund research into long Covid and cardiovascular outcomes,” Prof Vassiliou added.
“Health systems must be prepared for the ongoing burden, not just the acute infection.”
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