Could COVID-19 Increase Risk Of Heart Problems For Student-Athletes?

Wisconsin health experts are studying how COVID-19 can affect student-athletes.

Particularly, they’re working to determine whether the young COVID-19 patients could eventually face a heightened risk of heart problems.

Although there’s more work to be done, there could be long-term impacts, according to the experts.

Doctors from Children’s Wisconsin, the Medical College of Wisconsin and the Herma Heart Center are all involved in organizing national guidelines and studying ages and symptoms of young athletes, WISN reported Monday (December 7).

"The concern is that COVID, the virus, can simplistically infect the heart and cause abnormalities with the heart muscle," said Dr. Kevin Walter, of Children's Wisconsin and an expert in pediatrics and sports medicine. He explained that any heart issues seem to be rare, but more information is needed.

Walter is also a member of the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association, which directs student-athletes who exhibit severe COVID-19 symptoms to get testing done on their hearts before participating in sports again, according to WISN.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services reported a total of 414,332 positive cases as of Monday. Of those cases, more than 58,000 — 14% — remain active. The state has also tracked more than 18,000 hospitalizations and more than 3,700 deaths statewide, data show.

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