Dry cough, fever, breathing problems – now, it could be demonstrated that the triggering of Sars-CoV-2 Virus accumulates primarily in the pharynx and then to the lungs to be excreted.
Especially for the elderly and persons with pre-existing conditions such as cardiovascular problems, Diabetes, high blood pressure, or cancer Covid-19 can be very dangerous.
In many patients with severe courses of disease, the novel Coronaviurs an inflammation of the lungs, which can cause shortness of breath, and as a consequence, especially in high – risk groups – even in death.
In the meantime, various studies provide evidence to suggest that the Coronavirus can cause damage to the heart muscle strong.
Cardiovascular disease to increase mortality
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Although it is now in younger, healthy people to a severe course of the disease, the worst of the symptoms were found to continue in patients at risk – here, pre-existing conditions, have led, in combination with Sars-CoV-2 more frequently to death.
For example, the mortality of Covid-19-patients with cardiovascular diseases and high blood pressure at 10.5 percent, which is assessed according to the experts, is high.
The scientists explained this death rate so far, by the fact that shortness of breath also leads to that the heart has to provide more power to pump the few oxygen through the body – an already weakened heart can difficult to handle.
Various studies from China and Italy, however, now suspect that the Virus itself may cause acute damage to the heart muscle.
Biomarkers Troponin indicates a damaged heart
In the case of viruses, which are currently highly infectious Coronavirus is closely related, could be detected in the past, acute heart damage – Sars-CoV and Mers-CoV has caused also severe damage to the heart muscle.
In the current studies shows that patients with severe cases of the Coronavirus infection often have elevated levels of the biomarker Troponin in the blood – this is set of damaged and dying heart muscle cells.
Experts see in these elevated values, a possible evidence that the infection is attacking the heart – so far, this has not yet been clarified exactly how this injury comes to pass.
The patient develops inflammation of the heart muscle
In an Italian study, researchers Riccardo Inciardi of the University of Brescia were able to establish a direct link between the Coronavirus and damage to the heart.
The scientists worked with a healthy 53-year-old woman who had been infected with Sars-CoV-2 – first of all, the patient developed the classic symptoms such as dry cough and fever.
As she was struggling after about a week the symptoms with a strong exhaustion and circulatory problems, read you in the hospital to investigate, where she was tested positive for Covid-19.
Studies in the field of cardiology showed, finally, that the patient showed clear signs of acute Myocarditis – she was suffering from a heart muscle inflammation.
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Inciardi and his colleagues report: “This case underlines, that the heart as a complication of Covid-may be 19 affected, even without clear symptoms and no pneumonia.”
Mohammad Madjid of the University of Texas, is author of an overview of the study and to agree with these statements: “It is likely that the heart muscle even in the absence of a previous heart caused disease caused by the Coronavirus and the disease is affected.“
Study proves that inflammatory diseases of the heart muscle
Also, a study from China suggests that the disease causes only symptoms in the respiratory and related inflammatory reactions, but also the heart muscle can cause damage.
A Team from the University of Wuhan, discovered on the Basis of the 416 patients that just under 20 percent, evidence of myocardial damage – i.e. inflammatory diseases of the heart muscle.
If a Patient had these lesions of the myocardium, increased the risk significantly, to die of Covid-19. Of the patients who showed no elevated Troponin values, or any other evidence for heart muscle damage, killing only 4.5 percent.
Also, a further study with 187 patients showed that in subjects with can Indicate heart muscle damage, a death rate of 59.6 per cent – however, died only 8.9 percent of the patients with a normal Troponin levels in the blood.
Increased mortality rate even without pre-existing condition
About half of the patients with damage to the heart muscle had an increased risk to die from the Corona virus infection. Patients in whom the Biomarker Troponin could not be detected in the blood, have according to these findings, seems to be a lower risk of death.
Robert Bonow of Northwestern University writes in an accompanying Editorial in the journal ‘JAMA Network’: “it is Noteworthy that, although the highest mortality rates were observed in the patients with high Troponin levels and cardiovascular illnesses, but mortality rates also was in which greatly, increased troponin values without such pre-existing conditions had.“
In addition, the expert explained that bishlang it is still not clear what specific mechanisms and relationships behind this effect.
Further studies have to show, what ensures that the heart muscle is attacked by the Coronavirus, and in which patients.
Important note: The information in this article contains only General information. For the diagnosis of a health problem we recommend visiting by trained and recognised Physicians.
Sources
- Inciardi, R. et al. (2020): Cardiac Involvement in a Patient With Coronavirus Disease in 2019 (COVID-19), retrieved on 06.04.2020 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamacardiology/fullarticle/2763843
- Shi, S. et al. (2020): Association of Cardiac Injury With Mortality in Hospitalized Patients With COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, retrieved on 06.04.2020 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamacardiology/fullarticle/2763524
- Bonow, R. et al. (2020): Association of Coronavirus Disease in 2019 (COVID-19) With Myocardial Injury and Mortality, retrieved on 06.04.2020 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamacardiology/fullarticle/2763844
Antonia Hagedorn
*The contribution of “New course of the disease: the corona virus can also be released in the heart muscle attack” is of FitForFun. Contact with the executives here.