Covid-19 has shown itself to be more than a respiratory disease. A groundbreaking study now suggests that the virus may significantly increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and even death for up to three years following infection. This revelation offers new insights into how the virus impacts the cardiovascular system long after recovery, with worrying implications for global health.
Key Findings from the Study
The study, published in Atherosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, analyzed the medical records of nearly a quarter-million people from the UK Biobank database. Of these, over 11,000 had tested positive for Covid-19 in 2020, before the widespread availability of vaccines. Almost 3,000 of these cases involved hospitalizations due to severe Covid infections. The research compared this group with over 222,000 individuals who had no record of Covid-19 during the same time period.
What the researchers found was startling: people who had contracted Covid in 2020 had twice the risk of experiencing a major cardiac event, such as a heart attack, stroke, or death, for up to three years after their illness compared to those who had not been infected. For those hospitalized due to Covid, the risk was even higher—more than three times that of non-Covid patients.
These long-term cardiovascular risks persisted regardless of age, gender, or other pre-existing conditions, marking Covid-19 as a unique threat to heart health in the post-infection phase.
Severe Covid Cases Pose Heightened Risk
For individuals who were hospitalized due to Covid, the potential for a cardiac event post-recovery was akin to those with other severe cardiovascular risk factors, such as diabetes or peripheral artery disease (PAD). According to one estimate, over 3.5 million Americans were hospitalized for Covid between May 2020 and April 2021. This means a substantial portion of the population could face elevated heart risks in the years to come.
The findings are concerning, as they suggest that even once an individual has recovered from the acute phase of Covid-19, they may still be at increased risk of heart-related complications. As Covid-19 continues to evolve with new variants, understanding its long-term impacts on cardiovascular health is critical.
Covid-19: A Distinct Infection with Lasting Impact
The persistence of these cardiovascular risks is particularly striking, as they do not appear to diminish over time. Dr. Stanley Hazen, the study’s author and chair of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Sciences at Cleveland Clinic, expressed surprise at this finding. “There’s no sign of attenuation of that risk,” he stated.
This sustained risk sets Covid-19 apart from other infections. Dr. Patricia Best, a cardiologist at the Mayo Clinic, explained that while it is known that infections can temporarily increase the risk of heart attacks—whether from influenza or bacterial infections—these risks generally subside quickly after recovery. However, Covid appears to trigger a longer-lasting effect on the cardiovascular system, making it unlike any other infection we have encountered in recent memory.
How Does Covid-19 Affect the Heart?
Researchers are still working to unravel exactly how Covid-19 causes such prolonged damage to the cardiovascular system. One theory is that the virus may infect the cells lining blood vessels, which could lead to lasting inflammation and damage. The virus has also been found in the plaques that build up in arteries—sticky substances that, when ruptured, can cause heart attacks and strokes.
Dr. Hooman Allayee, another study author and professor at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, suggests that Covid-19 may destabilize these plaques, making them more prone to rupture. When this happens, clots form, blocking blood flow and potentially leading to a heart attack or stroke.
While more research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms at play, these findings underscore the need for continued vigilance in treating those who have recovered from Covid-19.
Blood Type as a Risk Factor
In addition to examining the broader impacts of Covid-19 on heart health, the study uncovered an intriguing link between blood type and cardiovascular risk. Previous research has shown that individuals with non-O blood types (A, B, or AB) are at greater risk for heart disease. This study found that the same blood types may also be more susceptible to heart attacks and strokes following Covid-19 infection.
Interestingly, people with O-type blood, while still at elevated risk, appeared to fare slightly better in terms of heart attack and stroke likelihood compared to their counterparts with A, B, or AB blood types. However, this doesn’t mean they were immune—everyone hospitalized for Covid-19 faced some degree of increased cardiovascular risk, regardless of their blood type.
The researchers believe that the gene responsible for blood type may play a role in these increased risks, but they have yet to determine the exact mechanisms behind this connection.
Aspirin as a Potential Protective Measure
There was a silver lining to the study: people who had been hospitalized for Covid but were taking low-dose aspirin—a common treatment to reduce blood clotting—did not experience an increased risk of heart attacks or strokes. This suggests that some of the heart-related risks associated with Covid-19 may be mitigated with proper medical interventions.
Low-dose aspirin is already a well-known preventative measure for heart disease, but these findings suggest that it could be particularly beneficial for those recovering from Covid-19. However, it’s essential to consult a healthcare provider before starting any new medication, including aspirin, as it’s not suitable for everyone.
Managing Post-Covid Cardiovascular Risks
Given the study’s findings, Dr. Hazen advises healthcare professionals to pay close attention to the cardiovascular health of patients who have recovered from Covid-19. In his practice, Hazen now routinely asks patients about their Covid history when assessing their heart disease risks.
For those who have had Covid-19, especially those who required hospitalization, he recommends a proactive approach to managing heart health. This includes keeping blood pressure and cholesterol levels in check, maintaining a healthy diet and regular exercise, and possibly incorporating a daily aspirin into their routine—though this should always be done under a doctor’s supervision.
Vaccination may also play a protective role, as the study suggests that vaccinated individuals—whose cases of Covid-19 tend to be less severe—could be at lower risk for post-Covid cardiovascular complications. However, the study did not specifically examine the impact of vaccines on long-term heart risks, leaving room for future research in this area.
As Covid-19 continues to evolve, with new variants potentially posing fresh challenges, it’s crucial to remain vigilant in both preventing and managing the long-term effects of the virus. This study is a sobering reminder that even after recovering from Covid-19, the battle for health may be far from over—especially when it comes to the heart.