Australia Studies Find Blood Markers Linked to Heart Problems from 'Long COVID'

Sydney — The University of Queensland in Australia released study results indicating that blood markers of inflammation in individuals with long COVID, following infection with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), may explain why many people with long COVID experience heart issues.

The study found that an examination of blood samples taken from individuals around 18 months after infection revealed an increase in cytokines, which are proteins that regulate inflammation in the body. Cytokines directly impact the functioning of heart muscle cells, which are responsible for pumping blood.

Kirsty Short, a member of the research team from the School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences at the university, stated that cytokines damaging these specific cells, which serve as fundamental pillars of the heart, may lead to abnormalities in the cardiovascular system. This discovery provides insights into long COVID and could present opportunities to improve diagnosis and treatment, as well as enhance understanding.

This study was conducted in collaboration with researchers from the University of Queensland, Flinders University, the University of Adelaide, the Australian National University, and several leading medical research institutes. The research team analyzed the blood of 50 participants who had been experiencing long COVID for over a year, had recovered from COVID-19, or had never been infected with the virus.

Short added that the research team is currently interested in whether these findings can be applied to other symptoms of long COVID, such as neurological or respiratory conditions, as individuals with chest pain and/or palpitations were also included in the study.

Additionally, another study from the Australian National University, the University of Melbourne, and the University of New South Wales, conducted in August, estimated that working-age individuals facing long COVID had an economic impact of AUD 9.6 billion (approximately THB 214 billion) on the Australian economy in 2022.

Source:

Xinhua
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