New research reveals that heart damage from COVID-19 often stabilises after hospitalisation. 

A recent study has provided some reassurance to individuals hospitalised with COVID-19 who experienced heart damage. 

The research, involving both Australian and international teams, indicates that while initial cardiac injuries due to the virus may be concerning, they do not appear to worsen after hospital discharge. 

Additionally, certain aspects of heart health showed improvement over time.

The study primarily focused on unvaccinated COVID-19 patients who had suffered myocardial injuries, a condition indicated by elevated troponin levels, which is a marker for heart damage. 

Researchers monitored these patients for a year, with follow-up heart imaging performed six months after discharge. 

Results showed that key measures of heart health, including scarring, remained stable. Encouragingly, there were signs of recovery in some areas. 

Inflammation, one of the most concerning heart conditions associated with severe COVID-19, diminished in many cases. Other improvements included enhanced left ventricular ejection fraction, an important indicator of heart function.

Additionally, the study found that within 12 months, the rates of major adverse cardiovascular events, including heart attacks and deaths, were low. 

Only 1.2 per cent of the 338 participants died during this period, while 1.8 per cent experienced events such as a new myocardial infarction or acute coronary syndrome. 

The researchers also reported a 95 per cent resolution of lung conditions like pneumonitis, which had also developed during the illness.

The findings show that while severe COVID-19 can cause significant heart damage, it is often non-progressive after patients leave the hospital. 

“Myocardial injury in severe hospitalised COVID-19 survivors is nonprogressive,” the study concludes.

The study's results could be reassuring for survivors of severe COVID-19, offering hope for those with lingering heart issues.

The full study is accessible here.

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