Long COVID-19 and the Heart: Is Cardiac Mitochondria the Missing Link?

Although corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has now gradually been categorized as an endemic, the long-term effect of COVID-19 in causing multiorgan disorders, including a perturbed cardiovascular system, is beginning to gain attention. Nonetheless, the underlying mechanism triggering post-COVID-19 cardiovascular dysfunction remains enigmatic. Are cardiac mitochondria the key to mediating cardiac dysfunction post-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (post-SARS-CoV-2) infection? Cardiovascular complications post-SARS-CoV-2 infection include myocarditis, myocardial injury, microvascular injury, pericarditis, acute coronary syndrome, and arrhythmias (fast or slow). Different types of myocardial damage or reduced heart function can occur after a lung infection or lung injury. Myocardial/coronary injury or decreased cardiac function is directly associated with increased mortality after hospital discharge in patients with COVID-19. The incidence of adverse cardiovascular events increases even in recovered COVID-19 patients. Disrupted cardiac mitochondria postinfection have been postulated to lead to cardiovascular dysfunction in the COVID-19 patients. Further studies are crucial to unravel the association between SARS-CoV-2 infection, mitochondrial dysfunction, and ensuing cardiovascular disorders (CVD). The relationship between COVID-19 and myocardial injury or cardiovascular dysfunction has not been elucidated. In particular, the role of the cardiac mitochondria in this association remains to be determined. Elucidating the cause of cardiac mitochondrial dysfunction post-SARS-CoV-2 infection may allow a deeper understanding of long COVID-19 and resulting CVD, thus providing a potential therapeutic target. 38, 599-618.