More Americans are dying from heart-related causes in their own homes, and experts are sounding the alarm as the trend continues upward long after the peak of the COVID-19 crisis.

A major study from Mass General Brigham has found that cardiac deaths in Massachusetts rose significantly since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, with many of these fatalities happening outside hospital care, pointing to long-term impacts ranging from missed treatment to virus-related heart damage, as the Daily Mail reports.

Researchers at Mass General Brigham, a Harvard-affiliated health system, examined nearly 128,000 death certificates of people who died in Massachusetts between January 2014 and July 2024. Their study, published Friday in the medical journal JAMA Network Open, revealed a 17% increase in cardiac deaths over the four years following the emergence of COVID-19.

These increases were especially stark in the early pandemic years. Cardiac mortality was 16% higher than expected in 2020 and rose to 17% in both 2021 and 2022. Though the increase slowed to 6% in 2023, it remained well above pre-pandemic predictions, signaling a troubling trend that hasn't resolved with time.

The average age among those who died was 77, and just over half were men. The researchers used U.S. Census data to calculate what would have been the expected number of deaths for each year, then compared those estimates with actual outcomes. The discrepancy was consistent across all four years.

Drop in hospital heart attacks raises concerns

The study revealed one particularly disturbing shift: more people are dying from heart issues at home, while hospital deaths have declined. This mismatch raises serious questions about access to care, patient behavior, and the hidden toll of the pandemic.

Between 2020 and 2023, hospitals saw a 20% to 34% drop in admissions for heart attacks. However, total cardiac deaths didn’t fall -- they surged. The clear implication, according to researchers, is that many patients either avoided hospital visits or weren’t properly evaluated when they did seek help.

Dr. Jason H. Wasfy, a cardiologist and lead author of the study, said deaths happening outside hospitals may have gone unnoticed in other studies that only looked at hospital data. “Lots of reports have shown that there have been fewer heart attacks in hospitals since 2020 — but something seems to be missing from that data,” Wasfy said.

Pandemic delays, missed diagnoses blamed

This shift to dying at home comes as no surprise when considering the impact of delayed or avoided care during the pandemic. A 2020 CDC report found that 40% of Americans put off or skipped medical treatment during COVID-19. Remarkably, 12% reported they avoided emergency rooms specifically.

These choices may have contributed to fatal consequences for those with undiagnosed or untreated heart issues. In extreme cases, patients suffering from active cardiac emergencies may not have recognized the signs or chosen to wait it out at home, with tragic results.

“We now show that if you account for deaths at home, cardiac deaths are going up and have stayed up for years,” said Wasfy. “Today, there are a lot more people having cardiac deaths at home, which also raises the concern that people with heart disease haven’t been getting the care they need since the pandemic.”

COVID’s lingering damage suspected

Beyond avoidance of care, the virus itself is believed to play a direct role in some heart-related deaths. COVID-19 has been linked to heart muscle inflammation known as myocarditis, as well as pericarditis, or inflammation of the heart's outer lining. These conditions can lead to heart failure, irregular rhythms, or even sudden cardiac arrest.

In some cases, these inflammatory responses may persist long after the original infection has ended. There's also evidence that COVID-related inflammation disrupts the heart’s normal electrical signals, contributing to potentially deadly arrhythmias. Although rare, mRNA vaccines used during the pandemic have also been associated with myocarditis and pericarditis, with risk estimates as low as one case per 200,000 recipients. Researchers were clear not to overstate this link but included it as one of several cardiovascular risks emerging since 2020.

Lifestyle choices fueling fire

The study also noted the role of post-pandemic lifestyle choices, including increased use of substances like marijuana. People who used cannabis at least three times a week showed signs of endothelial dysfunction -- a condition that affects blood vessel dilation and raises the risk of heart disease.

Regular marijuana use, especially if smoked or consumed in edibles, was shown to reduce the body’s ability to release nitric oxide, which is necessary for healthy blood flow. This disruption may increase the risk of heart attacks even in young, otherwise healthy individuals. Real-world cases have highlighted how unpredictable and sudden these cardiac episodes can be. Among them were Chloe Burke, a 21-year-old cheerleader who went into cardiac arrest at a university event, and Raquel Hutt, 24, who suffered a heart attack without any known medical cause.

Lessons to learn

1. Never delay emergency medical care. If you experience symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or fainting, call 911 or go to the emergency room immediately. Time makes the difference between life and death during a cardiac event.

2. Be proactive about heart health post-COVID. Even if you've recovered from COVID-19 or never had symptoms, it's important to get routine check-ups and mention any changes in physical endurance, heartbeat patterns, or chest sensations to your doctor.

3. Don't dismiss cardiac risks in young adults. This study reminds us that heart issues can affect anyone, regardless of age or fitness level. While healthy lifestyle choices reduce risks, they don’t eliminate them. We must never blame the victims of unexpected heart complications.

Why This Story Matters

This story exposes a hidden public health emergency -- one that may outlast the pandemic that triggered it.

As hospitals report fewer heart attacks, but the death toll climbs, it's clear our systems and communities must adapt. Understanding these patterns can help prevent future tragedies.