COVID Myocarditis

COVID and COVID Vaccine Related Myocarditis

As we know, viruses are a main cause for the development of myocarditis.  SARS-COV-2 (COVID-19), is a virus, and thus, it can cause myocarditis.

While those with prior COVID-19 infections were more likely to develop cardiac issues, there is a large spectrum of disease that can be attributed to COVID-19. Per Dr. Leslie Cooper, of the Mayo Clinic, “Not only can you have the common heart attack, or blood clots in the veins or the lungs, but also less common diseases like myocarditis or pericarditis occur at a higher rate in patients who have had COVID-19”.

COVID vaccines saved millions of lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. But no medicine is without any side effects. So, vaccines, unfortunately, in a subset of people, are causing some inflammation and other adverse events. Research has found that Covid-19 itself is much more likely to cause myocarditis than the vaccine is, and people who are vaccinated have a much lower risk of getting other serious complications caused by Covid-19.

While reports of myocarditis following any Covid-19 vaccine are rare, cases are more common in young males aged 18 to 29 years following the second dose. Most people who have been affected have experienced a mild illness and recovered without medical treatment.

Due to the fluid nature of the information on the COVID-19 pandemic, scientific understanding along with guidelines and recommendations are changing frequently as more is found out.

We encourage you to go to: cdc.gov to get the most up to date information available.

Please keep in mind that as research is continued on COVID-19 and Myocarditis, as well as COVID related Myocarditis, that statements made initially may no longer be relevant. 

Much has been learned over the past 3 years since COVID-19 appeared.  It is a very fluid situation with researchers learning more as they look deeper into it.

This following is information that the Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA) has offered to all patients with heart failure, caregivers and care providers.

Dr. Leslie Cooper has asked that we provide it to our patients as well for reference. These are all about Corona Virus and the Heart.

Please see the information below from the HFSA:

“In an effort to protect our patients, our members, and the public, the Heart Failure Society of America has developed a Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resource Center on our website. The center includes resources for both heart failure patients and caregivers and care providers.

The Resource Center can be accessed from the homepage of hfsa.org via the button in the upper right-hand corner or via the link in the left-hand main menu as seen circled in the image below.”

“The HFSA advises heart failure patients to follow CDC recommendations that patients at higher risk of getting sick and facing complications from COVID-19 (which includes patients with chronic heart conditions) should stay home as much as possible to further reduce risk of being exposed and maintain a routine to stay healthy at home.

HFSA advises heart failure care providers to follow the ACC COVID-19 Clinical Guidance For the CV Care Team to make plans and take action.

Make a difference, participate in a clinical trial

3-8-23 – Imaging for cardiovascular complications of COVID-19

1-27-23 Researchers take a closer look at what COVID-19 does to the heart

1-4-23 – Circulation Risk of Myocarditis after Vaccine and Infection

1-4-23 – Lancet VAERS Post vaccine Myocarditis 2022

1-3-23 –Myocarditis following COVID-19 vaccine

3-20-22 –ACC Issues Clinical Guidance on CV Consequences of COVID-19

3-18-22 – Pfizer’s Covid vaccine safe in people with prior myocarditis, study says

12-3-21 –Receipt of mRNA Vaccine against Covid-19 and Myocarditis

12-3-21 –The Benefits of Vaccinating Kids against COVID Far Outweigh the Risks of Myocarditis

11-11-21 – Covid-19 and Vaccines

9-1-21 – Coronavirus Disease-2019 and Heart Failure

8-18-21 – Myocarditis in Athletes After COVID-19 Infection

7-22-21 – Myocarditis with COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines

7-6-21 – Myocarditis Following Immunization With mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines in Members of the US Military

7-6-21 – Covid Infection a greater risk of Myocarditis…

6-30-21 – Reported cases of myocarditis in younger men following COVID-19 vaccination are rare; vaccination remains important

6-29-21 – Mayo Clinic Q and A: COVID-19 vaccination and heart issues

6-28-21 – FDA adds warning about rare heart inflammation to Pfizer, Moderna Covid vaccines

6-21-21 – AHA News: Should Rare Cases of Heart Inflammation Put Your COVID-19 Vaccine Plans on Hold?

6-16-21 – Cardiac MRI Effective in Detecting Asymptomatic, Symptomatic Myocarditis in Athletes

6-14-21 – Myocarditis and Pericarditis Following mRNA COVID-19 Vaccination

6-14-21 – Doctors explain myocarditis and why teens should still get a COVID-19 vaccine

6-2-21 –  NJ man may have experienced rare COVID vaccine reaction that caused heart inflammation

4-29-21 – US CDC has not seen link between heart inflammation and COVID-19 vaccines

3-11-21 – Myocarditis and COVID-19…Where Do We Stand One Year Later?

2-25-21 – Myocardial Involvement in Coronavirus Disease 19

2-3-21 –   Why Exercising is So Tricky, Especially After COVID-19

12-23-20 – 2020 Guideline Changes: Return-to-Play, Rooming In

12-17-20 – Podcast by Dr. Leslie Cooper from Mayo Clinic on COVID-19 cardiac involvement

10-20-20 – Life After COVID-19: What’s the Risk of Cardiac Injury?

10-20-20 – Assessing the Long-Term Impacts of COVID-19

8-28-20 –ESPN Radio Interview with Dr. Leslie Cooper on COVID-19 and Myocarditis

8-26-20 – Exercise and COVID-19 Can Be a Dangerous Combination, Evidence Shows

8-24-20 – Hyperinflammatory shock in children during COVID-19 pandemic

8-24-20 – COVID-19–Associated Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children — United States, March–July 2020

8-14-20 – Big Ten Medical Report Details Serious Cardiovascular Concerns From Experts

8-10-20 – At the Heart of It: Cardiac Inflammation the Next Virus Hurdle for College Leaders

8-6-20 –  FDA issues EUA for Abiomed Impella heart pumps for COVID-19 therapy

7-31-20 – Cardiopulmonary Considerations for Student-Athletes during the COVID-19 Pandemic

7-13-20 –COVID-19 Cardiac Injury:  Implications for Long-Term Surveillance and Outcomes in Survivors

6-22-20 -COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma in 20,000 Hospitalized Patients

5-18-20 –When is it safe for an athlete to return to play after recovering from COVID-19?

4-21-20 – Description and Proposed Management of the Acute COVID-19 Cardiovascular Syndrome

4-17-20 –How Does Covid-19 affect the heart?  Please click here to see the following article from Mayo Clinic News Network

4-6-20 – Please click here tp watch Dr. Leslie Cooper, Medical Director for the Myocarditis Foundation, speak on “How Does COVID-19 Affect the Heart”

4-1-20 – The Myocarditis Foundation shares COVID-19 Updates for Health Care Providers

These resources and more can be found in our Resource Center.”

• AHA – What heart patients should know about coronavirus
• AHA – Coronavirus precautions for patients, others facing higher risks
• AHA – Resources to maintain healthy lifestyle amidst COVID-19 outbreak
• ACC Clinical Bulletin Focuses on Cardiac Implications of Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) – coverage and billing information
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – high risk complications and general information
• Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – drug shortages and personal protective equipment information
• Health and Human Services (HHS) — general health updates
• Department of Labor (DOL) — workplace safety and leave information USA.gov — government-wide activity information

Visit the HFSA Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources Center
The Myocarditis Foundation wishes you all the best in the coming days.

For any additional questions that you may have related to myocarditis, please email: [email protected]