The expert on heart disease after covid: "Rare conditions but serious"

Children and young people who have had covid-19 appear to be twice as likely to suffer from certain diseases within a year of infection.

This is according to a new study, which was published the other day by the US national public health authority CDC.

- You should be aware that the study was carried out in an American healthcare system that looks a little different from ours, but because it is so large, it provides valuable information, says Carl-Erik Flodmark, medical expert at the National Board of Health and Welfare.

- Above all, the fact that more diseases or conditions have been found after covid-19 that may be worth observing for healthcare, that is the new and important thing.

It is about clots in the lung (pulmonary embolism), heart muscle inflammation, blood clots in the blood vessels as well as kidney problems and type 1 diabetes, the two of which are later than previously known.

At the same time, Flodmark emphasizes that the conditions are rare and only affect a few children and young people each year.

- So it is about between 20 and 150 cases per 100,000. So it is an unusual condition, but good for healthcare to know about.

More studies and evaluations are needed

According to Flodmark, how many Swedish children may have suffered long-term effects from covid-19 in this way is unclear.

Regarding the disease states that were found to have the highest risk increase, blockage in the lung and heart muscle inflammation, based on statistics, he cannot see any increase compared to before the pandemic.

- There is no clear pattern, so it is not possible to draw any conclusions without conducting a more in-depth investigation.

Can these conditions be prevented in any way?

- That is the next question that needs to be evaluated, and it is a bit early to make a decision.

But that must be weighed in future assessments that the Public Health Authority makes when discussing vaccination of children.

The study did not examine differences between vaccinated and unvaccinated.

Carl-Erik Flodmark also sits on the district board for the Green Party in Skåne and stands in parliamentary and regional elections, in a non-elective seat.