New Research Uncovers Connection Between COVID-19 and Heart Health Risks

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A new study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has found that people infected with COVID-19 early in the pandemic face an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and death for up to three years after infection. This study focused on unvaccinated individuals who contracted the original strain of the virus and revealed a heightened cardiovascular risk even among those without prior heart conditions.

According to the findings, individuals who had COVID-19 early in the pandemic were twice as likely to experience cardiovascular events compared to those without a history of infection. Those with severe COVID-19 cases saw nearly four times the risk. “This study sheds new light on the potential long-term cardiovascular effects of COVID-19, a still-looming public health threat,” said David Goff, M.D., Ph.D., director for the Division of Cardiovascular Sciences at NIH’s National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), which funded the research. Goff emphasized the importance of continuing efforts to identify effective prevention strategies for heart disease in people who have had severe COVID-19, although more research is needed to confirm these long-term risks.

One of the unique aspects of the study is its suggestion of a genetic component, specifically regarding blood type. Researchers discovered that those with A, B, or AB blood types were more likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke after severe COVID-19, while people with type O blood appeared to have a lower risk.

The study involved data from over 10,000 individuals enrolled in the UK Biobank, including 8,000 who had tested positive for COVID-19 and 2,000 who had been hospitalized for severe illness. None of the participants had been vaccinated, as the data collection period was between February and December 2020, before vaccines were available.

“Given that more than 1 billion people worldwide have already experienced COVID-19 infection, the implications for global heart health are significant,” said study leader Hooman Allayee, Ph.D., professor at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine. Allayee noted that further research is needed to determine whether recent severe COVID-19 cases also carry similar long-term cardiovascular risks.

Researchers also highlighted that the study focused primarily on a population from the UK Biobank, which is largely white, and further studies are needed to see if these findings apply to more diverse populations. Additionally, it remains unclear how vaccines may affect cardiovascular risk following COVID-19 infection.

This study contributes to growing evidence of COVID-19’s long-term health effects, underlining the need for continued attention to cardiovascular disease prevention in those who have had severe cases of the virus.

The full NIH health release can be found here.