1Īccording to the American College of Cardiology (ACC) COVID-19 Clinical Guidance, other patients have presented with myocardial infarction, myocarditis, acute-onset heart failure, and cardiac arrest, which comport with two previous coronavirus outbreaks: severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). A February 2020 case report in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) identified those complications in 16.7% and 7.2% of hospitalized patients, respectively. Cardiac Complications of COVID-19ĭata from Wuhan, China has indicated that arrhythmia and acute cardiac injury could be among the most prevalent heart complications in confirmed-positive cases. As an essential tool for monitoring heart activity, ECG may be a first line of defense in spotting signs of complications. Given insights that indicate comorbidities both increase infection risk and worsen prognoses, physicians should remain diligent about patients' risk and refer them for imaging follow-ups to detect abnormalities. Acute Cardiac Complications of COVID-19: What We Know Now contains more updated information regarding COVID-19's effect on the heart.Īs empirical and anecdotal evidence feeds in about COVID-19, cardiologists have directed attention toward potential cardiac complications that the viral disease has been known to cause, particularly among patients with underlying heart conditions. This content was based on the sources available at the time of writing. New information regarding COVID-19 continues to emerge daily.