re: Remember myocarditis? Study finds only 0.7% of college athletes w/ COVID had heart issues.

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That’s actually much higher than I thought it would be and kinda scary. But does it define “heart issues” anywhere?

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One common "triad" protocol was to conduct an electrocardiogram, a blood test for troponin protein and an echocardiogram -- or ultrasound -- of the heart. In some cases, students also underwent cardiac MRIs.

Of the 21 cases of possible to confirmed cardiac concerns, cardiac MRIs found 11 cases of definite or probable myocardial or myopericardial issues; nine of those were cases in which the athlete showed moderate or cardiopulmonary symptoms or had abnormal findings on one of the triad tests.

Researchers also determined that COVID-19 did not cause any athletes in the study to suffer a heart attack or related event.

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The article only states that the 21 issues noted were "cardiac concerns," and that only about half of those concerns (11) were "definite or probable" myocardial issues. The others were "abnormal findings."

Myocarditis itself is essentially inflammation of the heart muscle.

An important side note is that while a viral infection usually causes myocarditis, it does not mean it was due to COIVD. Viruses responsible can also be the common cold, gastrointestinal infections, hepatitis, herpes, mononucleosis, and HIV.

It can also result from bacterial and fungal infections, a reaction to a medication or cocaine use, and exposure to carbon monoxide.

One earlier small-scale study indicated a 15% incidence of myocarditis in about two dozen Ohio State athletes. This larger testing suggests that those isolated findings probably resulted from one of the above causes, and not COVID.