A new study suggests that Covid-19 could increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and deaths for up to three years after an infection, CNN reports.
The research, published in Atherosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, analyzed medical data from over a quarter of a million people enrolled in the UK Biobank.
The study identified more than 11,000 individuals who tested positive for Covid-19 in 2020. These participants were compared to over 222,000 people in the same database who had no history of Covid-19. Results showed that individuals infected with Covid-19 faced double the risk of a major cardiac event—such as a heart attack, stroke, or death—for nearly three years compared to those who were never infected.
The risk was even higher for people who were hospitalized for severe Covid-19 infections. Those patients had more than triple the risk of heart-related complications compared to individuals without a Covid history. For this group, Covid-19 posed as much of a cardiovascular threat as other known risk factors like diabetes or peripheral artery disease (PAD).
Researchers are still investigating why Covid-19 appears to have such a prolonged effect on the cardiovascular system. One theory suggests that the virus may cause lasting damage to the artery walls, leading to a higher likelihood of blood clots that trigger heart attacks or strokes.
“There’s no sign of attenuation of that risk,” said Dr. Stanley Hazen of the Cleveland Clinic, who co-authored the study.
Interestingly, the study found that people with certain blood types—especially those with blood type O—had a slightly lower risk of post-Covid heart complications, though they were still at elevated risk.
There is some encouraging news, however. Individuals hospitalized for Covid-19 who were taking low-dose aspirin did not show an increased risk of heart attacks or strokes, suggesting that preventive measures can help manage long-term cardiovascular risk.
The study did not examine the role of Covid-19 vaccination in reducing heart risks, but researchers believe vaccination could be protective, as it reduces the severity of infection. The findings emphasize the importance of monitoring heart health for people with a history of severe Covid-19.
“Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide… If you’ve had Covid, we need to be particularly vigilant about lowering your heart risks,” Dr. Hazen noted.
