A recent study indicates that COVID-19 could significantly increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes for up to three years following an infection. This research was published in the medical journal Atherosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology.
Study Overview
The study analyzed medical records from approximately 250,000 individuals enrolled in the UK Biobank. Researchers identified over 11,000 people who tested positive for COVID-19 in 2020, with nearly 3,000 requiring hospitalization. They compared these individuals to more than 222,000 others in the same database who did not have a history of COVID-19.
The findings revealed that individuals infected with COVID-19 in 2020—before vaccines were available—had double the risk of experiencing significant cardiac events, such as heart attacks or strokes, for nearly three years after their illness. Those hospitalized for their infections faced an even greater risk, more than three times higher than those without a COVID-19 history.
Long-Term Risks
The study highlights that COVID-19 appears to be as significant a risk factor for future heart issues as diabetes or peripheral artery disease (PAD). Dr. Stanley Hazen, a study author and chair of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Sciences at the Cleveland Clinic, noted that there was no sign of reduced risk over time. “There’s no indication of a reduction in that risk,” he said, calling this finding unexpected.
Dr. Patricia Best, a cardiologist at the Mayo Clinic who was not involved in the research, emphasized that while infections typically raise heart attack risks temporarily, COVID-19 seems to have a lasting impact. “This is just such a large effect,” she remarked.
Potential Mechanisms
Researchers are still trying to understand why COVID-19 has such long-lasting effects on heart health. Previous studies have shown that the virus can infect cells lining blood vessels and has been found in arterial plaques that can cause heart attacks and strokes.
Dr. Hooman Allayee from the Keck School of Medicine at USC suggested that COVID-19 may destabilize plaques forming in arteries, making them more prone to rupture and causing clots. “There might just be something that COVID does to the artery walls and the vascular system that causes sustained damage,” he explained.
Blood Type Influence
The study also examined how blood types might influence cardiovascular outcomes after COVID-19 infection. It found that individuals with non-O blood types (A, B, AB) were at higher risk for major cardiac events after hospitalization for COVID-19. In contrast, those with type O blood had a lower risk.
Dr. Hazen noted that about 60% of the global population has non-O blood types and may be at increased risk for cardiac events following COVID-19 infection.
Conclusion
This study underscores the importance of considering a history of COVID-19 when assessing cardiovascular health risks. As researchers continue to explore the long-term effects of COVID-19 on heart health, it becomes increasingly clear that this virus poses significant risks beyond its immediate impact on respiratory health.
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