We found evidence, in the hearts of COVID-19 patients, of abnormalities in the way calcium is handled,' said one of the researchers.
The effects of COVID-19 on the respiratory system and lungs are well established. Currently, growing evidence points to potential long-term effects of the virus on the heart.
Heart tissue from COVID-19 individuals who had died from the disease – some of whom also had a history of heart conditions – was examined by a research team to see how it had changed. Scientists examined the autopsies and discovered several anomalies, particularly in the way heart cells regulate calcium.
Dr. Andrew Marks, chair of the physiology department at Columbia University, said there were "abnormalities".
The heart tissue from these COVID-19 fatalities actually resembled heart tissue from heart failure patients when their calcium system got in. "We found evidence, in the hearts of COVID-19 patients, of abnormalities in the way calcium is handled," he said.
"The data we present shows that dramatic changes occur in the heart," Marks was quoted as saying by Time.
Calcium is necessary for the contraction of all muscles, including the heart. Calcium is stored inside muscle cells, which then open special channels to release it as needed. The channel may remain open in some circumstances, such as heart failure, in an attempt to help the heart muscle contract more forcefully. Calcium leakage eventually depletes calcium stores, causing muscles to weaken.
By examining how the virus affects the hearts of mice and hamsters, Marks hopes to investigate potential heart changes that SARS-CoV-2 may induce. While the animals are infected and after they recover, he plans to measure changes in immune cells as well as any changes in heart function to identify any lasting consequences.
As per earlier investigations, there is a correlation between COVID-19 infection and heart-related issues. A comprehensive review of patients in the VA system from 2022 showed that individuals who had COVID-19 had higher rates of several heart-related risks, such as irregular heartbeat, heart attack and stroke. Some of these patients were cured of COVID-19 while others were never diagnosed.
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