Canadian Cardiologists Must Step Up Care for Long COVID
Raising Awareness Among Cardiologists
At the 2025 Canadian Cardiovascular Congress in Quebec City, experts emphasized the need for improved care for long COVID patients in Canada. Cardiologist Thao Huynh from McGill University Health Centre said many doctors still doubt the existence of long COVID until they encounter it themselves. She called for patience, empathy, and active engagement from all cardiologists in treating affected patients.
Cardiovascular Consequences of COVID-19
Epidemiologist Naveed Janjua from the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control presented data showing increased cardiovascular risks after COVID-19 infection. A population-based study found a higher risk of major cardiovascular events (hazard ratio 1.34) and heart attacks (1.65). A meta-analysis also revealed a more than fivefold increased risk of myocarditis within a year of infection.
Clinical Findings and Diagnostic Challenges
Huynh’s IMPACT QUEBEC COVID-19 Long Haul Study found cardiac involvement in 38% of 276 long COVID patients. Symptoms included shortness of breath (95%), chest pain (86%), and palpitations (84%). Standard tests often appear normal, making diagnosis difficult. Cardiac MRI (CMR) is the most reliable diagnostic tool but can involve long waiting times.
Treatment and Barriers to Care
Huynh urged physicians to begin treatment based on strong clinical suspicion rather than waiting for imaging results. She noted gender bias, as most cardiologists are men while most long COVID patients are women. Her main treatments are colchicine and, when available, anakinra. She warned against a “wait-and-see” approach since patients rarely recover without therapy.
Vaccine-Related Myocarditis
Michael Khoury from the University of Alberta discussed myocarditis following COVID-19 vaccination. The condition occurs in about 1.2 per 100,000 doses, but up to 39 per 100,000 in young males. Most cases resolve within 3–6 months, though fibrosis often remains on imaging. The MYCOVACC study has recorded 359 cases across Canada, mostly mild and linked to Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. Symptoms typically include chest pain and shortness of breath, treated with anti-inflammatory or cardiac drugs and short hospital stays.
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