Study shows Covid infected kids, adolescents more likely to have heart disease
The evidence of heart disease post-Covid infection in children and adolescents is limited
- NEW DELHI — While
the risk of cardiovascular outcomes following SARS-CoV-2 infection has been
reported in adults, a new study showed that children and adolescents are also
likely to develop multiple cardiac signs and symptoms.
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- The evidence of heart disease post-Covid infection in
children and adolescents is limited.
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- The study, led by researchers from the University of
Pennsylvania, revealed children and adolescents remained at risk of
cardiovascular disease, including higher odds of high blood pressure and heart
failure, between one to six months after Covid-19 infection.
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- The team analysed electronic health records (EHR) data from
19 children’s hospitals and health institutions in the US between March 2020
and September 2023.
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- The study involved 297,920 children and adolescents with
Covid infection and 915,402 without infection -- all of them were followed up
for at least six months.
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- The results showed that “children and adolescents with prior
SARS-CoV-2 infection are at a statistically significant increased risk of
various cardiovascular outcomes"
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- This includes "hypertension, ventricular arrhythmias,
myocarditis, heart failure, cardiomyopathy, cardiac arrest, thromboembolism,
chest pain, and palpitations, compared to uninfected controls,” said the
researchers in the paper published in the journal Nature Communications.
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- Notably, the team said that the findings remained consistent
among patients with and without childhood heart defects (CHDs). However,
children with CHD showed a higher risk of atrial fibrillation -- an irregular
heartbeat condition.
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- Further, the study observed a positive association between
obesity and increased risks for certain severe cardiovascular outcomes, coupled
with lower risks for cardiovascular symptoms, in children and adolescents.
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- “While these findings were not substantial, they highlight the
complexity of obesity-related cardiovascular health in paediatric populations,”
said the team
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- “Awareness of the heightened risk of cardiovascular
disorders after SARS-CoV-2 infection can lead to timely referrals, diagnostic
evaluations, and management to mitigate long-term cardiovascular complications
in children and adolescents,” they added.
