Dr. Hays and her team analysed echocardiograms (ECGs) of Covid-19 patients who were admitted within the intermediate or intensive care units at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. These patients had been placed in care for respiratory complications due to Covid-19, who have not had a prior recorded heart problem. Speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) analysis was carried out to check the strength of the left atrium (chamber of the heart) for every heartbeat. 
The team was able to conclude that patients with Covid-19 in general had lower function of this section of the heart. This includes how the heart moved, as well as how the blood within the chambers of the heart were emptied with each 'beat' or contraction. 
The study also found that there was a noticeable difference in the left atrial strain or movement of the top left section of the heart, in patients who developed heart problems while having Covid-19. Dr. Hays and her team believe that this means that the same Speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) analysis can be used to pre-identify patients who may go on to develop heart problems due to Covid-19. 
The team also found that blood samples of  Covid-19 patients who developed heart complications had higher levels of the 'markers' of heart stress. Although we still do not know exactly how Coronavirus causes these changes, Dr. Hays has said that more research is needed.