Some scientists believe that hydroxychloroquine and remdesivir, drugs used to treat coronavirus disease (COVID-19), may lead to heart failure.
In a study published on The American Journal of Emergency Medicine, researchers have found a link between COVID-19 fatalities and cardiovascular symptoms and noted that these two drugs currently being administered to patients in hospitals around the world may have potentially increased those dangerous effects.
Research co-author Dr. William Brady of the University of Virginia School of Medicine in Charlottesville said that hydroxychloroquine may cause direct myocardial toxicity, which could lead to heart failure.
Remdesivir, meanwhile, must be used with caution as Dr. Brady said in the study that this drug may cause abnormal heart rhythms and hypotension or low blood pressure.
Dr. William said that there are currently 45 studies that connects the disease with cardiovascular symptoms like myocardial injury, heart attacks, acute heart failure, abnormal heartbeats, and venous thromboembolism (blood clot) that leads to stroke.
He added that seven to 17 percent of patients hospitalized with the disease, as well as 22 to 31 percent of those in ICU suffer from myocardial injury—or irregular heart muscle contractions.
“As we encounter more and more patients with COVID-19-related illness, we are increasing our understanding of its impact on the body in general and the cardiovascular system in particular. The rate of learning on this area is amazingly rapid. Information continues to change weekly, if not daily,” he said. “As we gain more experience with this new, we realize that its adverse impact extends beyond the respiratory system.”
