Clinical Scorecard: Is Long COVID Affecting the Heart?

At a Glance

Key Highlights

• Higher cardiovascular event rates in long COVID patients compared to those without.
• Nearly 20% of women with long COVID experienced cardiovascular events.
• Long COVID linked to increased risk of cardiac arrhythmias and coronary artery disease.
• Study based on healthcare data from over 1.2 million adults.
• Importance of ongoing monitoring for cardiovascular risk in long COVID patients.

Guideline-Based Recommendations

Diagnosis

• Diagnosis of long COVID should utilize standardized ICD-10 codes.
• Clinical assessment is crucial for diagnosing heart disease.

Management

• Consider cardiovascular risk in patients with long COVID.
• Use laboratory tests such as cardiac biomarkers and lipid profiles for evaluation.

Monitoring & Follow-up

• Ongoing monitoring of cardiovascular health in long COVID patients is essential.

Risks

• Increased risk of cardiovascular disease persists even in non-hospitalized patients.

Patient & Prescribing Data

Patients aged 18–65 years with long COVID, excluding those with prior heart disease or severe COVID-19.

Structured follow-up and awareness of cardiovascular risks are necessary.

Clinical Best Practices

• Implement routine cardiovascular assessments for long COVID patients.
• Utilize a multidisciplinary approach for managing long COVID and associated risks.

References

• Study on Long COVID and Cardiovascular Risk