Scientists identify different types of heart damage experienced by Covid patients

October 27, 2020 14:02

Scientists have identified the different types of structural injuries to the heart experienced by Covid-19 patients that are associated with life-threatening blood clots and cardiac arrest, findings that may lead to better monitoring of people vulnerable to these deadly conditions.

According to the study, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, these abnormalities in the heart are associated with higher risk of death among hospitalised Covid-19 patients.

The researchers, including those from The Mount Sinai Hospital in the US, believe the new insights may help doctors better understand the mechanism of cardiac injury among those infected with the novel coronavirus, leading to quicker identification of patients at risk and guidance on future therapies.

In the current study, the scientists looked at the levels of the protein troponin, which is released when the heart muscle becomes damaged, in combination with the presence of cardiac scan abnormalities seen using an echocardiogram instrument.

The researchers found found that the combination was associated with worse prognosis and mortality than troponin elevations alone. The scientists assessed the heart scans of 305 adult patients with confirmed positive Covid-19 admitted to four New York City hospitals within the Mount Sinai Health System, and two hospitals in Milan, Italy, between March and May 2020.

According to the study, the average age of the patients was 63 years and 67.2 per cent were men. It noted that 190 of the 305 patients had evidence of heart damage -- 118 of them had heart damage at the time of hospital admission, and 72 developed cardiac injury during hospitalisation.

The scientists found that patients with myocardial injury had more heart scan abnormalities, and higher levels of molecules indicating inflammation when compared to patients without heart injury. They said these abnormalities were diverse with some patients exhibiting multiple signs of heart injury. -- PTI

« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES

Mamata loses balance, falls while boarding helicopter

Following the incident, she flew to Kulti and addressed a rally in support of TMC's Asansol candidate Shatrughan Sinha.

It will be...: Kharge on Amethi, Rae Bareli candidates

Kharge claimed that though the BJP says the corrupt must be put in jails, when leaders facing corruption charges join the saffron party, they are "put on the lap" and sent to Rajya Sabha or assembly.

Uber Cup: Chaliha stuns Li as India rout Canada in opener

Ashmita Chaliha produced an inspired show to stun higher-ranked Michelle Li as the India scored a clinical 4-1 victory over Canada to make a positive start in the Uber Cup tournament in Chengdu, China, on Saturday.

2 CRPF jawans killed in insurgent attack in Manipur

The militants attacked an India Reserve Battalion camp at Naranseina in the Moirang police station area, they said.

'Weapons planted in Sandeshkhal': TMC sniffs BJP-CBI-NSG conspiracy

The party also doubted "there is no way of knowing with certainty as to whether these weapons were indeed recovered during the search or whether they were surreptitiously planted by the CBI or NSG".