How profound a toll COVID-19 has taken on the nation's heart health is only starting to emerge, years into the pandemic.

"We are seeing effects on the heart and the vascular system that really outnumber, unfortunately, effects on other organ systems," said Dr. Susan Cheng, a cardiologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

They also worry about the effect of COVID-19 on children’s developing brains:

“These long COVID symptoms, especially memory problems, can significantly affect the self-confidence and development of children in coming years,” the researchers write.

“Children under 10–12 years are supposed to be [in] the most important stages for the brain development, which [implies] that the effects of viral infection on children’s brains can be more destructive.”