How COVID-19 can affect your heart health On Wear Red Day, local experts weigh in on the pandemic's effect on heart health. and last updated 2021-02-05 19:21:37-05 LAFAYETTE, La. â The pandemic has caused habits to change including most people working from home, and this sedentary lifestyle could affect your heart health. Every 36 seconds, a person dies in the United States from cardiovascular disease, according to the American Heart Association. Studies show the COVID-19 virus increases the chances of heart failure. âCOVID has increased the cardiovascular events," said Dr. Deedra Harrington. "Whether it be heart attack, whether it be congested heart failure, ischemic cardiovascular diseases.â