COVID-19 has had a lasting impact on cardiovascular health worldwide. While the acute phase of the pandemic has passed, the relationship between COVID-19 and cardiovascular disease (CVD) continues to be an important area of research, clinical care and public health.

Evidence accumulated during the pandemic showed that people living with CVD and other noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) were at greater risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19. At the same time, COVID-19 itself was associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular complications.

Today, attention has increasingly turned to the longer-term cardiovascular effects of COVID-19, including the impact of long COVID, as well as the lessons the pandemic has provided for strengthening cardiovascular care and preparing health systems for future public health emergencies.

Research from around the world has highlighted the close relationship between COVID-19 and cardiovascular health.[1]

People with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions were among those at highest risk of severe outcomes during the pandemic. COVID-19 infection was also linked to cardiovascular complications during and after acute illness, reinforcing the importance of preventing, identifying and managing CVD as part of comprehensive health care.

These findings have underlined the need for integrated approaches to infectious diseases and NCDs, particularly for people living with CVD.

Some people continue to experience symptoms for weeks or months following a COVID-19 infection.[2] This is often referred to as long COVID or post-COVID condition.

Long COVID can involve a range of symptoms, including fatigue, breathlessness, chest pain and palpitations. Ongoing research is examining how COVID-19 may affect cardiovascular health over the longer term and which people may be at greatest risk of persistent cardiovascular symptoms or complications.

People who develop new or persistent symptoms following COVID-19 should seek medical advice so that appropriate assessment and care can be provided.

Vaccination has played an important role in reducing severe illness, hospitalisation and death from COVID-19, particularly among people at increased risk because of age or underlying health conditions.[3]

For people living with CVD, staying up to date with recommended vaccinations remains an important part of protecting overall health. Individuals should follow the recommendations of their healthcare providers and local public health authorities regarding COVID-19 vaccination.

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed significant vulnerabilities in health systems around the world and highlighted the importance of maintaining access to essential health services, including cardiovascular care, during public health emergencies.

Key lessons include:

These lessons can help inform efforts to build more resilient and equitable health systems that are better prepared to respond to future health emergencies while continuing to address the global burden of CVD.[4]

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the World Heart Federation has worked with its global network to better understand the impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular health and to advocate for the needs of people living with cardiovascular disease.

This work has included:

• WHF Study on COVID-19 and Cardiovascular Disease
• Mortality, Cardiovascular Disease and Long COVID
• Preventing the Next Pandemic: The Case for Investing in Circulatory Health
• WHF Policy Brief: Tobacco Use, Cardiovascular Disease and COVID-19
• Emerging Insights and Future Directions in Infectious Diseases and Cardiovascular Health Heart Café at European Society of Cardiology 2025

Although COVID-19 is no longer the global emergency it was during the early years of the pandemic, its effects on cardiovascular health continue to be studied. The experience has reinforced the importance of protecting people living with CVD, maintaining essential health services during crises, and ensuring that cardiovascular health is an important part of preparedness for future pandemics.

The World Heart Federation remains committed to bringing together the global cardiovascular community, sharing evidence and advocating for health systems that are better equipped to protect cardiovascular health in the face of future public health emergencies.