A new study has found that people who have suffered from severe Covid are 16 times more likely to develop a deadly heart condition called ventricular tachycardia within six months.
Ventricular tachycardia is a type of arrhythmia, which is caused by the electric signals in the heart starting in a different place and traveling a different way through the heart.
The condition can be life-threatening, and in some cases, can cause the heart to stop in cardiac arrest.
The Study’s Findings
Researchers tracked rates of the condition and other arrhythmias in more than 31,400 participants in the study. While the overall risk was low, Dr. Marcus Stahlberg explained that the risk was “much higher” in adults who had severe Covid.
Covid patients who need mechanical ventilation often have other conditions, and adding a heart rhythm disorder may lead to worsened health.
Dr. Stahlberg added that Covid patients who develop palpitations or irregular heartbeats after hospital discharge should seek medical attention so they can be evaluated for possible arrhythmias.
Existing research has linked Covid to a range of heart problems, including heart failure, heart disease, heart attack, and deep vein thrombosis.
What is Ventricular Tachycardia?
According to the Mayo Clinic, a healthy heart typically beats about 60 to 100 times a minute at rest.
But for patients with ventricular tachycardia, the heart beats faster, at around 100 or more beats a minute.
This can be dangerous when the rapid heartbeat prevents the heart chambers from properly filling with blood.
As a result, the heart may not be able to pump enough blood around the body.
Episodes of ventricular tachycardia lasting more than a few seconds can be life-threatening.
Preparing for an Increase in Patients with Arrhythmias
Dr. Stahlverg added that an increased risk of arrhythmias following Covid has also been reported previously in the bulk of patients not requiring ICU treatment.
Together with the new data, hospital systems should prepare for an increase in patients requiring management for new onset arrhythmias.
In conclusion, severe Covid patients face an increased risk of ventricular tachycardia and other arrhythmias.
As such, those who have experienced a serious bout of the virus should seek medical attention if they develop palpitations or irregular heartbeats after hospital discharge.
Hospital systems should also prepare for an increase in patients requiring management for new onset arrhythmias.