Local researchers study the ongoing aftermath of COVID

ST. LOUIS — Researchers are working to figure out how COVID continues to affect people’s hearts long after the virus.

One thing is clear: even the most recent cases of the virus are still driving people to the emergency room or to the doctor with new heart problems.

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis say the evidence is clear.

dr Ziyad Al-Aly, a clinical epidemiologist, led the research conducted in the early stages of the virus in 2020. He continues to research how later variants affect heart health.

Al-Aly says SARS-CoV-2 increases heart problems in the first year after infection. Doctors expect the risk to decrease after the first year, but research is still examining the long-term effects.

The doctor is still treating patients of all ages who develop heart problems, even mild cases of the latest COVID variants. He still sees people in their 20s, 30s and 40s returning to his clinic with heart problems, heart attacks and strokes.

Antivirals play a major role in protecting the heart. Al-Aly says they are extremely underutilized.

https://fox2now.com/news/missouri/local-researchers-studying-covids-lingering-aftereffects/ Local researchers study the ongoing aftermath of COVID