📍“IT SPARES NO ONE”—new @JohnsHopkins evidence has revealed that anyone infected with COVID is at higher risk for heart issues—clots, inflammation, arrhythmias—a risk that **persists even in relatively healthy people** long after the illness has passed 🧵
publichealth.jhu.edu/2022/covid-and…
2) “The major finding was that people with COVID-19 have a higher risk of all sorts of heart problems at one year. That included arrhythmias (irregular heart beats or the heart beating too fast or too slow) and atrial fibrillation (a fast heart rhythm in a particular pattern).
3) “We found evidence of an increased risk of stroke, of blood clots in the legs and the lungs, and of heart failure and heart attacks. The increased risk of a broad spectrum of heart problems was evident.
4) “I went into it thinking that [the risk] was going to be most pronounced and evident in people who smoked a lot or had diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, or some [other] risk factors. What we found is that even in people who did not have any heart problems start with”…
5) “were athletic, did not have a high BMI, were not obese, did not smoke, did not have kidney disease or diabetes—even in people who were previously healthy and had no risk factors or problems with the heart—
6) “COVID-19 affected them in such a way that manifested the higher risk of heart problems than people who did not get COVID-19.
It was really eye-opening 👀 that the risk was also evident in people who did not have severe COVID-19 that necessitated hospitalization or ICU care.
7) “People who got COVID-19 and were asymptomatic, or got COVID-19 that was so mild that they were able to nurse it at home, without going to the doctor still developed an increased risk of heart problems a year out.”
8) “ARE WE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE SOME FORM OF LONG COVID AND ARE CHRONICALLY ILL? WILL IT BE A STRAIN ON GOVERNMENT RESOURCES? WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE FUTURE?
I think that's why talking about it is very important…
9) “We think long COVID can affect anywhere between 4% and 7% of people. That seems really small, but it’s not if you multiply that number by the huge number of people infected with COVID in the U.S., more than 80 million people and counting.
10) “We think that will translate into millions of people with long COVID in need of care—our health systems need to be prepared. People running health systems need to start preparing for tide of patients that are going to hit our doors with heart problems and other long COVID.
11) “On govt level, I think we definitely need to be prepared for this. We cannot move on from the pandemic and disregard its long-term consequences. Arguably the long-term consequences are going to be even more profound and stick with us and scar a lot of people for generations.
12) “A lot of the manifestations we're describing in this report are chronic conditions that will [affect] people for a lifetime. For example, heart failure isn't something that you wake up tomorrow and all of a sudden don't have. That's not how it works…
13) “We're no longer talking about things that might improve tomorrow—we're seeing chronic conditions that will require care for a long time. 👀 People, health systems, and governments need to be prepared for that.” 😮
14) it is estimated that 20-30% of unvaccinated may get #LongCovid - and even up to 5-10% of vaccinated might get #LongCovid too. That’s is MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS if you multiply that out in the US alone. Staggering. I worry about our future healthcare system.
15) The majority of Americans still support masks on public transit. Many people know someone who is vulnerable. Maybe we should have more empathy and listen to them. It is MORALLY BANKRUPT to ignore the MILLIONS who are vulnerable. I could name names, but you all know who.
16) I debate with myself whether to share certain data— but people need to know this—that even with a 3rd shot booster— it doesn’t make you invulnerable against #Omicron or #BA2’s subvariants. The data shows waning against even ER admissions and hospitalizations—be vigilant. 🙏
17) there are now at least 5-30 million people in the Us with #LongCovid— and it’s only going to grow as we learn more.
18) Liver inflammation from #LongCovid could be a driver of the hepatitis surge in kids. None of the kids had any of the conventional hepatitis infections. None were vaccinated. But 11 of 12 had COVID.
19) poor teachers. 1 in 5 had have #LongCovid and more than 1 in 2 know a coworker with #LongCovid
20) The list of #LongCovid cardiovascular damage a year later even among the never hospitalized is so damn long…
21) great #LongCovid infographic summary.
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