A Yale researcher is partnering with the NCAA to examine how athletes can be affected by a heart condition that can occur after having COVID-19.

Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart and anyone that gets the virus could be at risk for the complication. Researchers says it's hard to pinpoint how many COVID patients suffer from the inflammation.

There have been studies with college athletes but there were small samples to work with.

"And the data from those series range from very common, like 40%, to an article that came out recently just this past week that suggests it might be more like 3%," says Yale cardiologist Dr. Rachel Lampert.

The NCAA Athlete COVID Registry hopes to narrow that data range by comparing the COVID outcomes of student athletes from 42 universities.

Dr. Lampert sits on the registry's steering council. Lampert says until that inflammation goes down, athletes risk permanently weakening the heart. She says better data and more of it will help athletes of all ages return to the field safely after a brush with COVID.

"Before you go back, you would have some further testing to make sure that that inflammation has resolved," says Dr. Lampert.

Dr. Lampert says most athletes affected by myocarditis can play safely again in four to six months.