Cardiac complications after Covid-19

Cardiac problems following Covid-19 are being discussed more and more widely.

To constantly monitor your heart's condition, we encourage you to explore our range of handheld ECG devices. These devices can be used to perform tests anywhere, anytime, especially when a sudden irregular heartbeat occurs.

HANDHELD ECG DEVICES FOR HOME USE

For the purposes of this article, we will be using an excellent report published in December 2020;„Heart failure in Poland. Realities, costs, suggestions for improving the situation” under the supervision of Marta Kałużna-Oleksy, MD, PhD, from the 1st Clinic of Cardiology, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Clinical Hospital of the Transfiguration of Our Lord in Poznań.

„"The data available so far from Wuhan, China, shows that various types of cardiovascular diseases were present in almost 50% of patients infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus (coronavirus) and contracting COVID-19, and in as many as 70% of those who died. The situation is similar for individual cardiovascular diseases – hypertension was found in 30% of all patients who contracted the coronavirus infection, while it was found in as many as 48% of those who did not survive. Patients with cardiovascular diseases, such as hypertension, a history of heart attack, heart failure, or diabetes, are at greater risk of death from coronavirus than those without these conditions. This is not the end of the disturbing information. The virus is not only dangerous for patients with comorbidities. Observations also indicate that it can irreversibly damage the hearts of previously healthy individuals."*.

Many years before the Covid-19 pandemic, statistics indicated rising mortality rates from cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks. According to statistics, approximately 700,000 patients suffer from heart failure, and this number is constantly growing.

„"Just like cardiovascular disease is the main cause of deaths in Poland (approx. 45%), yes noheart performance is in the inglorious first place place among these diseases, constituting the most common the direct cause of death in general"”**.

„"„In 2018, 142,000 people died from heart failure in Poland. Every hour, 16 people die from this condition. recognition. Heart failure was the direct cause of death for almost 41,000 of them, which accounts for 9.8% of all deaths in Poland. As a result, this disease can be considered the most common cause of death among Poles"**.

„"„NHeart failure in Poles is becoming a problem epidemiological. Patients with heart failureca based on the National Health Fund data is approximately 1.2 million, which About 140,000 people die each year. Cardiovascular diseaseslogical are the main cause of mortality in Poland. We expect that the number of patients will increase year by year. more"** - confirmed Kinga Bartolik from the Ministry of Health.

Awareness of heart failure in Poles is very low. People don't realize that it's a fatal disease, leading to deaths more often than cancer. Furthermore, diagnosing heart failure is difficult because it doesn't always produce typical symptoms. Often, the symptoms of heart failure are associated with simple fatigue, and we don't associate them with serious cardiac disease.

Symptoms of heart failure are:

dyspnoea
getting tired quickly
weariness
night cough
decreased appetite
depression
heart palpitations
dizziness
fainting

Causes of heart failure:

ischemic heart disease
arterial hypertension
toxic effects of substances (drugs, radiation)
metabolic disorders
genetic abnormalities
chronic lung diseases
hyperthyroidism
diabetes
liver cirrhosis

Analyzing the age structure of heart failure patients in Poland in 2017 compared to the European Union, it can be concluded that people aged 0-74 years are more likely to develop heart failure in Poland than in the EU as a whole. From age 75, the incidence in Poland is lower than in the EU. The largest group of patients are those aged 80-84, accounting for 181% of all patients. Larger groups also include those aged 75-79 (171% of all patients), 70-74 (141% of all patients), and 65-69 (141% of all patients).

Last year added another cause of heart disease: coronavirus.

A severe case of coronavirus infection should be consulted with a cardiologist. Diagnostics are necessary to rule out cardiac complications. As part of the diagnostic tests, the doctor may recommend an echocardiogram and an ECG. Sometimes, a Holter ECG or MRI may be necessary.

By superimposing the available statistics of heart failure patients in Poland (2017) with the number of deaths due to Covid-19 (as of April 14, 2020), we will obtain graphs with a similar structure***.

Heart failure is a chronic disease that can be treated. However, prevention is best.

How to prevent? What can you do to prevent the development of heart disease?

education in the field of cardiac rehabilitation, building social awareness of heart failure
prevention (regular health check-ups: proper blood pressure control, heart rate control, saturation control, body weight control)
healthy lifestyle (diet, physical activity, avoiding risk factors, including smoking cessation)

Health education facilitates collaboration between physicians and patients, leading to positive treatment outcomes. It's important to recognize that the most significant risk factors include hypertension, diabetes, and being overweight.

There are many diagnostic devices available on the market for individual use that help monitor heart function and detect irregularities. Handheld ECG devices are very popular and allow you to monitor your heart anytime, anywhere.

The ECG monitor records, analyzes, and displays the ECG waveform and heart rate, detecting abnormal ECG patterns that could lead to a heart attack. OLAMED offers medical ECG devices for individual users. For more information about portable ECG devices, please visit the link below:

HANDHELD ECG DEVICES FOR HOME USE

Literature:

*Prof. Adam Witkowski: "Let's be aware that coronavirus damages the heart", https://ptkardio.pl/covid_19_i_choroby_serca/koronawirus_uszkadza_serce

** Heart failure in Poland. Realia, koszty, sugestie poprawy sytuacji. Dr n. med. Marta Kałużna-Oleksy, I Klinika Kardiologii Uniwersytetu Medycznego w Poznaniu, Szpital Kliniczny Przemienienia Pańskiego w Poznaniu. Grudzień 2020. https://marfan.org.pl/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Niewydolnos%CC%81c%CC%81-RAPORT-A4-2021-NET.pdf

***Own study based on data from Heart failure in Poland. Realities, costs, suggestions for improving the situation. December 2020 and Percentage of age groups in the total number of deaths due to COVID-10. Chief Sanitary Inspectorate. As of April 14, 2020.

https://pulsmedycyny.pl/zapalenie-miesnia-sercowego-w-przebiegu-covid-19-spektrum-powiklan-moze-byc-bardzo-szerokie-1111999

https://cm-debina.pl/powiklania-kardiologiczne-coovid-19/