Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHeart Failure and COVID-19 RiskComplications of Heart Failure and COVID-19Heart Failure Treatments and COVID-19How to Stay SafeFrequently Asked Questions

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Heart Failure and COVID-19 Risk

Complications of Heart Failure and COVID-19

Heart Failure Treatments and COVID-19

How to Stay Safe

Frequently Asked Questions

People with certain underlying medical conditions are at a higher risk of getting the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), and heart failure is one of them.

It’s well known that heart failure puts someone at a higher risk of contracting and becoming severely ill with viral respiratory infections.Even though COVID-19 vaccines reduce the risk of COVID-19 infections, people with heart failure and other high-risk conditions are still at increased risk for infection.

Verywell / Theresa Chiechi

Heart Failure and COVID-19 Risk - Illustration by Theresa Chiechi

People with a pre-existing heart problem like heart failure are about 10% to 20% more likely to experience severe illness from COVID-19 compared to people with healthy hearts.They are also more likely to get much sicker and even die because of COVID-19.

Nearly 1 in 3 adults with a history of heart failure died during hospitalization for COVID-19. This is almost double the in-hospital mortality for adults without heart failure.

How COVID-19 Affects Heart Failure

COVID-19 can exacerbate heart failure in a few different ways:

The inflammation and increased production of cytokines as a result of COVID-19 causes blood to become thicker andcloteasier. Blood clots can create even more problems for people with heart failure because they can further impede blood flow.

People with heart failure are at a greater risk of becoming severely ill with COVID-19. One study found that among patients who were hospitalized with a COVID-19 infection, there was a 50% mortality rate among those with pre-existing heart failure compared with a mortality rate of 10% in individuals without heart failure.

Treatment for COVID-19 can also lead to serious complications for people with heart failure due to several contributing factors:

Even people without heart failure before a COVID-19 infection may find themselves with heart failure after they have survived the infection.

COVID-19 and the Heart: A Look at Recent Research

The key to managing heart failure is adhering to a treatment strategy that includes medications and lifestyle changes. In severe cases, implants or surgeries may be required. Some common prescription medications used to treat heart failure include:

How Heart Failure Is Treated

Hospitalization for a heart failure exacerbation could be especially tricky in the pandemic, particularly in areas where health systems are already strained. There are a number of ways you can keep your heart failure in check and avoid getting COVID-19:

If your heart failure symptoms worsen significantly, call 911 or go to the emergency department.

A Word From Verywell

Heart failure can put you at higher risk of more severe cases of COVID-19. Everyone should take the necessary precautions to protect themselves from the coronavirus, but it’s even more important for people with heart failure to do so. It’s recommended that persons with heart failure get vaccinated against COVID-19, which can offer an extra layer of protection.Reach out to your local vaccination center to learn more.

The information in this article is current as of the date listed. As new research becomes available, we’ll update this article. For the latest on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.

You should stay current on all testing, treatments, and medications for heart failure. While visiting a healthcare provider’s office does pose some risk of contracting COVID-19, there are a number of steps you can take to minimize that risk, including:

Probably. While researchers are still collecting more data, early studies have shown that people with pre-existing heart conditions like heart failure get sicker than people without those conditions if they become infected with COVID-19. Be sure to take safety precautions to protect yourself from the virus.

Yes. Not only is it safe for people with heart failure to get one of thevaccinesapproved for preventing COVID-19, it’s highly recommended. A number of medical organizations support COVID-19 vaccination for patients with heart conditions, including heart failure.

11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Falsey AR, Walsh EE, Esser MT, Shoemaker K, Yu L, Griffin MP.Respiratory syncytial virus-associated illness in adults with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and/or congestive heart failure.J Med Virol. 2019;91(1):65-71. doi:10.1002/jmv.25285Sisti N, Valente S, Mandoli GE, et al.COVID-19 in patients with heart failure: the new and the old epidemic.Postgrad Med J. 2021;97(1145):175-179. doi:10.1136/postgradmedj-2020-138080Bader F, Manla Y, Atallah B, Starling RC.Heart failure and COVID-19.Heart Fail Rev. 2021;26(1):1-10. doi:10.1007/s10741-020-10008-2Goyal P, Reshetnyak E, Khan S, et al.Clinical characteristics and outcomes of adults with a history of heart failure hospitalized for COVID-19.Circ Heart Fail. 2021;14(9):e008354. doi:10.1161/CIRCHEARTFAILURE.121.008354Unudurthi SD, Luthra P, Bose RJC, McCarthy JR, Kontaridis MI.Cardiac inflammation in COVID-19: Lessons from heart failure.Life Sci. 2020;260:118482. doi:10.1016/j.lfs.2020.118482Gheblawi M, Wang K, Viveiros A, et al.Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2: SARS-CoV-2 receptor and regulator of the renin-angiotensin system: Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the discovery of ACE2.Circ Res. 2020;126(10):1456-1474. doi:10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.120.317015Chatrath N, Kaza N, Pabari PA, et al.The effect of concomitant COVID-19 infection on outcomes in patients hospitalized with heart failure.ESC Heart Fail. 2020;7(6):4443–7. doi:10.1002/ehf2.13059Heidenreich P, Bozkurt B, Aguilar D, et al.2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA guideline for the management of heart failure.J Am Coll Cardiol. 2022;79(17):e263–e421. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2021.12.012Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.COVID-19: People with certain medical conditions.American Heart Association.COVID-19 vaccine is high priority for cardiac patients.American Heart Association.Heart disease and stroke medical experts urge public to get COVID-19 vaccinations.

11 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Falsey AR, Walsh EE, Esser MT, Shoemaker K, Yu L, Griffin MP.Respiratory syncytial virus-associated illness in adults with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and/or congestive heart failure.J Med Virol. 2019;91(1):65-71. doi:10.1002/jmv.25285Sisti N, Valente S, Mandoli GE, et al.COVID-19 in patients with heart failure: the new and the old epidemic.Postgrad Med J. 2021;97(1145):175-179. doi:10.1136/postgradmedj-2020-138080Bader F, Manla Y, Atallah B, Starling RC.Heart failure and COVID-19.Heart Fail Rev. 2021;26(1):1-10. doi:10.1007/s10741-020-10008-2Goyal P, Reshetnyak E, Khan S, et al.Clinical characteristics and outcomes of adults with a history of heart failure hospitalized for COVID-19.Circ Heart Fail. 2021;14(9):e008354. doi:10.1161/CIRCHEARTFAILURE.121.008354Unudurthi SD, Luthra P, Bose RJC, McCarthy JR, Kontaridis MI.Cardiac inflammation in COVID-19: Lessons from heart failure.Life Sci. 2020;260:118482. doi:10.1016/j.lfs.2020.118482Gheblawi M, Wang K, Viveiros A, et al.Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2: SARS-CoV-2 receptor and regulator of the renin-angiotensin system: Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the discovery of ACE2.Circ Res. 2020;126(10):1456-1474. doi:10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.120.317015Chatrath N, Kaza N, Pabari PA, et al.The effect of concomitant COVID-19 infection on outcomes in patients hospitalized with heart failure.ESC Heart Fail. 2020;7(6):4443–7. doi:10.1002/ehf2.13059Heidenreich P, Bozkurt B, Aguilar D, et al.2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA guideline for the management of heart failure.J Am Coll Cardiol. 2022;79(17):e263–e421. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2021.12.012Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.COVID-19: People with certain medical conditions.American Heart Association.COVID-19 vaccine is high priority for cardiac patients.American Heart Association.Heart disease and stroke medical experts urge public to get COVID-19 vaccinations.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Falsey AR, Walsh EE, Esser MT, Shoemaker K, Yu L, Griffin MP.Respiratory syncytial virus-associated illness in adults with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and/or congestive heart failure.J Med Virol. 2019;91(1):65-71. doi:10.1002/jmv.25285Sisti N, Valente S, Mandoli GE, et al.COVID-19 in patients with heart failure: the new and the old epidemic.Postgrad Med J. 2021;97(1145):175-179. doi:10.1136/postgradmedj-2020-138080Bader F, Manla Y, Atallah B, Starling RC.Heart failure and COVID-19.Heart Fail Rev. 2021;26(1):1-10. doi:10.1007/s10741-020-10008-2Goyal P, Reshetnyak E, Khan S, et al.Clinical characteristics and outcomes of adults with a history of heart failure hospitalized for COVID-19.Circ Heart Fail. 2021;14(9):e008354. doi:10.1161/CIRCHEARTFAILURE.121.008354Unudurthi SD, Luthra P, Bose RJC, McCarthy JR, Kontaridis MI.Cardiac inflammation in COVID-19: Lessons from heart failure.Life Sci. 2020;260:118482. doi:10.1016/j.lfs.2020.118482Gheblawi M, Wang K, Viveiros A, et al.Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2: SARS-CoV-2 receptor and regulator of the renin-angiotensin system: Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the discovery of ACE2.Circ Res. 2020;126(10):1456-1474. doi:10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.120.317015Chatrath N, Kaza N, Pabari PA, et al.The effect of concomitant COVID-19 infection on outcomes in patients hospitalized with heart failure.ESC Heart Fail. 2020;7(6):4443–7. doi:10.1002/ehf2.13059Heidenreich P, Bozkurt B, Aguilar D, et al.2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA guideline for the management of heart failure.J Am Coll Cardiol. 2022;79(17):e263–e421. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2021.12.012Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.COVID-19: People with certain medical conditions.American Heart Association.COVID-19 vaccine is high priority for cardiac patients.American Heart Association.Heart disease and stroke medical experts urge public to get COVID-19 vaccinations.

Falsey AR, Walsh EE, Esser MT, Shoemaker K, Yu L, Griffin MP.Respiratory syncytial virus-associated illness in adults with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and/or congestive heart failure.J Med Virol. 2019;91(1):65-71. doi:10.1002/jmv.25285

Sisti N, Valente S, Mandoli GE, et al.COVID-19 in patients with heart failure: the new and the old epidemic.Postgrad Med J. 2021;97(1145):175-179. doi:10.1136/postgradmedj-2020-138080

Bader F, Manla Y, Atallah B, Starling RC.Heart failure and COVID-19.Heart Fail Rev. 2021;26(1):1-10. doi:10.1007/s10741-020-10008-2

Goyal P, Reshetnyak E, Khan S, et al.Clinical characteristics and outcomes of adults with a history of heart failure hospitalized for COVID-19.Circ Heart Fail. 2021;14(9):e008354. doi:10.1161/CIRCHEARTFAILURE.121.008354

Unudurthi SD, Luthra P, Bose RJC, McCarthy JR, Kontaridis MI.Cardiac inflammation in COVID-19: Lessons from heart failure.Life Sci. 2020;260:118482. doi:10.1016/j.lfs.2020.118482

Gheblawi M, Wang K, Viveiros A, et al.Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2: SARS-CoV-2 receptor and regulator of the renin-angiotensin system: Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the discovery of ACE2.Circ Res. 2020;126(10):1456-1474. doi:10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.120.317015

Chatrath N, Kaza N, Pabari PA, et al.The effect of concomitant COVID-19 infection on outcomes in patients hospitalized with heart failure.ESC Heart Fail. 2020;7(6):4443–7. doi:10.1002/ehf2.13059

Heidenreich P, Bozkurt B, Aguilar D, et al.2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA guideline for the management of heart failure.J Am Coll Cardiol. 2022;79(17):e263–e421. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2021.12.012

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.COVID-19: People with certain medical conditions.

American Heart Association.COVID-19 vaccine is high priority for cardiac patients.

American Heart Association.Heart disease and stroke medical experts urge public to get COVID-19 vaccinations.

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