Government Studying Link Between COVID-19 & Heart Attack: Union Health Minister

Globally, there has been a significant increase in heart attack instances in the last few years. Cardiac arrest and heart attacks are more prevalent in younger people today than they were 10 to 15 years ago. These cases have increased after the global pandemic hit. While several hereditary and physical variables contribute to a heart attack, is there a connection between cardiac problems and Covid-19, as instances of a heart attack appear to have increased since the epidemic began?

In an interview with a leading media portal, Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya stated that the government has funded research to determine a connection between rising rates of heart attacks in India and Covid-19 infection, with findings anticipated in two to three months.

Covid-19 & Heart Attacks

Covid-19 is frequently associated with a rise in heart attacks in India, but there is no solid proof linking SARS-CoV-2 infection to heart attacks. Covid-19, on the other hand, can harm the heart by causing transient or permanent injury to cardiac tissue. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, this can occur due to several factors, including a lack of oxygen.

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Union Health Minister On Covid-19 & Heart Attacks

Talking to the media outlet, Dr Mandaviya stated that they needed to investigate as many youthful musicians, sportsmen and sportspersons died on stage while performing.

The government has commissioned research to determine the connection between the recent surge of heart attacks in young people and Covid-19, with findings anticipated in two to three months.

On the apprehension of the fourth wave of Covid-19, the Health Minister asked to stay alert. The last Covid-19 mutation was a BF.7 sub-variant of Omicron, and now the XBB1.16 sub-variant is causing the increase in cases, he said, adding that sub-variants are not particularly hazardous in the ministry's experience.

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Whenever a new variant is discovered, it is identified and isolated in the laboratory. Thereafter, the effectiveness of vaccines is investigated on them. So far, the immunisations have been effective against all known variations.

Dr Mandaviya stated that the CoWIN platform has provided all vaccination data and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has been studying the link between strokes and Covid-19 for the last three to four months, with the study expected to be completed in the next two months.

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