Mitral regurgitation - am I at risk with COVID-19?

[arturo1]

Hello,
I have mild-moderate mitral regurgitation (see enclosed description). I am 53yo, the situation is non-rheumatic, stable (due to a slender valve shape), my situation is stable I am otherwise healthy and fit.

I read online that "Patients who have heart valve abnormalities that are well compensated and well-tolerated at baseline, are more susceptible to heart failure if they were to become infected with coronavirus. Because of the underlying heart valve issues, if damage to the pumping chamber of the heart were to occur, patients would be less able to tolerate that."

Am I at greater risk of developing severe illness should I be infected? (Should I take greater than usual precautions so as not to get infected?)

I would really appreciate any answer you could provide.
Thank you!

[Ken_PA]

From the American cardiology group, https://www.acc.org/~/media/665AFA1E710B4B3293138D14BE8D1213.pdf

"Case fatality rates for comorbid patients:
Cardiovascular disease: 10.5%"

But that is for all of cardiovascular diseases together. I would have to *guess* that the rate for people with only a mild-moderate valve problem would be much lower than those with a lot of atherosclerosis.

For those without other health problems (aka comorbidities), the fatality rate is 2.3%. Let's say as a wild guess that your rate is double that. It's still only 4.6%, not at a terrifying 90%. Still, you should take extra care, of course.


Btw, do you wear a bracelet that alerts docs to your condition?

[Ken_PA]

"Am I at greater risk of developing severe illness should I be infected?"

Hi, Arturo; this is my rough interpretation:
Because of your valve problem, with every beat there is some backflow of blood and so there is reduced blood flow going out. On top of that, by itself getting CoViD can make anybody's heart muscle perform less well; and so that also causes a reduced blood flow going out. Your total reduction of outgoing blood flow can therefore be greater than if you didn't have the valve problem.


Let's see what the American cardiologist group says about ordinary flu:
"Acute viral infections have three categories of short-term effects on the cardiovascular system:
...
    Second, myocardial depression leading to heart failure.
..."
from https://www.acc.org/latest-in-cardiology/articles/2020/03/01/08/42/feature-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-provides-potent-reminder-of-the-risk-of-infectious-agents

"Myocardial depression" means the heart muscle isn't working so good. In sepsis from the CoV infection, the flood of inflammatory chemicals are involved in that. "Heart failure" means not pumping out enough blood. But the "failure" presumably can be temporary if heart muscle is not permanently damaged. However, the effect can still be devastating in the short term.


None of that, though, tells you HOW MUCH greater risk there is for you.

[auntiejessi]

Is this from mitral valve prolapse? I read a couple of articles a few weeks ago that mentioned MVP as a risk factor.

I can't say for certain what your risks levels are, but I would act as if you are at greater risk, just to be on the safe side.

I have some heart issues, and I'm taking greater risk, since no one can tell me for sure what risk level I have. I'm not in congestive heart failure or anything, but no one really knows, so I'm acting as if I'm high risk, just in case.

Best of luck to you and stay safe!

[AnxiousNoMore]

"Should I take greater than usual precautions so as not to get infected?" Everyone should be taking greater than usual precautions because it is so easily transmissible but many are not so Covid can be anywhere. No one can predict how Covid will affect them but many think they have no risk and don't care about others, so only you can protect yourself from them.