Cardiologists weigh in on whether COVID-19 or vaccines pose a greater risk of heart problems

A growing body of research is showing links between COVID-19 and heart-related problems, particularly in young people. Despite misinformation that claims otherwise, cardiologists still say the virus poses a greater risk of cardiac issues than the vaccine.

Nearly three years since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, a growing body of research is showing links between COVID-19 and heart-related problems, particularly in young people.

One study published in the scientific journal Nature Medicine on Feb. 7 found that rates of conditions such as heart failure and stroke were substantially higher in people who had recovered from COVID-19 than those who had never contracted the virus. Even people who had experienced a mild case of COVID-19 were at risk, the study found.

"Overall, when you sort of zoom out and look at all the evidence, it does look as if COVID, as a rule, as an illness, regardless of its severity, does increase the risk of developing cardiac complications," cardiologist Christopher Labos told CTV News Channel on Feb. 11. "And it seems to affect all people of all age brackets."

In September last year, a study led by Cedars-Sinai hospital in Los Angeles found that while the virus was associated with an increase in heart attacks in all age groups, those between the ages of 25 and 44 saw the highest increase. Heart attack rates in this age group increased 29.9 per cent, compared to 19.6 per cent for those aged 45 to 64 and 13.7 per cent for those aged 65 and over.

Labos explained the risk of developing any of a "broad constellation of (cardiac) symptoms" following a COVID-19 infection varies from one age bracket to another.

"With the older individuals, you're seeing more heart attack and more traditional coronary artery disease," he said. "But with younger individuals, you're also seeing more arrhythmias, more difficulty with exercise capacity."

Scientists are still learning about how COVID-19 affects the heart, but Labos explained many of the cardiac complications related to COVID-19 infections tend to fall into the categories of heart attacks and issues with the heart's electrical impulses.