New Delhi, 20 September, 2025: COVID-19 began as a respiratory disease, yet it continues to accumulate evidence that its outcomes extend way beyond the lungs. A recent article in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology cautions that a deep and excessive impact on cardiovascular health rises because of coronavirus (COVID-19), and long COVID arises in millions of individuals around the world as serious health conditions associated with their heart and blood vessels.
COVID-19 Impact On Heart Health
It is estimated that one billion people are infected with the virus globally, out of which the real number could be even greater. The terrible statistics are that an almost astounding number of individuals are presently living with long COVID, and within this group, even less than 5 per cent suffer cardiac long COVID. Most of the symptoms tend to comprise chest pains, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeats, weakness, dizziness, and up to heart failure.
Autonomic dysfunction has also been diagnosed as related to long COVID and represents a disease whereby the nerves controlling the unconscious processes, like heart rate, breathing, body temperature, etc., are rendered dysfunctional. This risk is especially high in patients who were hospitalised in the course of their infection, as there are studies that confirmed that there are higher incidences of heart attack and stroke, as well as cardiovascular mortality.
COVID-19 And Heart Problems
Professor Vassiliou of the University of East Anglia (UEA) and Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital headed the study on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). Uniting the professionals of the whole of Europe, the study thoroughly examined the current findings on COVID-19, heart problems, long-term outcomes, and vaccination results.
“We wanted to change the lack of clear, evidence-based guidance that leaves patients without proper care and sometimes vulnerable to unsafe treatments,” Prof. Vassiliou explained. “Millions of people are suffering, and health systems must be prepared for the ongoing burden, not just the acute infection.”
Recommendations for Prevention and Care
The report offers several critical recommendations that should be undertaken in the process of diagnosing, treating, and preventing COVID-related cardiovascular complications:
- The continuation of vaccination programmes: The vaccinated are much less likely to have cardiac complications or long COVID, even in case of becoming ill.
- Early diagnosis and treatment: A patient may have symptoms of chest pain, fainting, shortness of breath, and palpitations that need to be followed up with attention to heart involvement.
- Structured cardiac rehabilitation: Physiotherapy-based rehabilitation programmes would be of essential importance to ensure long-term cardiac health protection and increase recovery outcomes in cardiac long COVID patients.
- Equity of rehabilitation: The rehabilitation services should be expanded with urgency, especially in rural regions where they have limited access.
Rehabilitation: A Key to Recovery
The authors underline the fact that the consequences of COVID-19 on the heart must be treated over the years. “Covid doesn’t just affect the lungs. It can also damage the heart and blood vessels, both during the acute infection and for months afterwards,” said Prof. Vassiliou. “Rehabilitation can protect your heart and support recovery—especially if you already have heart disease.”
The study, however, cautions that as an increasing number of people demand its services in Europe, rehabilitation services presently do not have the capacity to accommodate the increasing demand. The intensive allocation of financial and other resources is necessary to increase service delivery, as well as equitable accessibility.
Looking Ahead
The study not only offers propositions that can be adopted in practical ways but also presents important areas of research incompleteness. Further evidence is necessary to realise the chronic cardiovascular effect of long COVID and to accommodate preventive and treatment approaches with the appearance of new evidence.
Primarily, patients must be helped by means of vaccination, equitable supply to rehabilitation, and long-term research of long COVID and cardiovascular outcomes. That is only when health systems will be ready to come into the burden that the ongoing COVID has left.
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