How does COVID-19 affect the heart? Mar 23, 2021 9:15 am by Liz Ahlberg TouchstoneExpert Viewpoints Share on Facebook Tweet Email Images While many think of COVID-19 as primarily a respiratory disease, its effects on the heart contribute to nearly 40% of deaths – and can strike even healthy children and athletes, says Illinois medical scholar Mariam Bonyadi Camacho. Share on Facebook Tweet Email