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A new study published in the academic journal Nature Medicine suggests that within a month to a year of infection with the new crown virus, the risk of cardiovascular disease complications may increase. These complications include arrhythmias, inflammatory heart disease (myocarditis and pericarditis), thrombotic diseases, cerebrovascular diseases (e.g., stroke), coronary artery problems, myocardial infarction, heart failure, etc., which can lead to death.
The results came from researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. They analyzed a cohort of 150,000 patients infected with COVID-19 who survived within 30 days, as well as hundreds of non-infected people (as controls), and comprehensively assessed the long-term impact of COVID-19 infection on cardiovascular health through up to one year of follow-up.
The researchers found that the incidence of heart disease was 4% higher among people infected with COVID-19 than in the non-infected population. "Some people may think that 4% is a small number, but if you consider the scale of the outbreak, you will find that this is not the case." That's the equivalent of nearly 3 million people in the United States suffering from cardiovascular complications from COVID-19. Professor Ziyad Al-Aly, the lead author of the paper, noted.
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Although the study cohort was dominated by older white men, the researchers observed that the risk of cardiovascular disease complications was "evident" in infected people of different ages, races, and genders.
The results of the analysis point out that for people with a high risk of heart disease before infection with the new crown, such as obesity, smoking, high blood pressure, and diabetes, the new crown will amplify the risk.
But what's even more noteworthy is that people who have never had any heart problems in the past and are considered a low risk of heart disease will also have heart problems after contracting the new crown. "Our data shows that whether young or old, male or female, black, white and all races, whether obese, have a history of diabetes or heart disease, mild or severe after infection with COVID-19, the risk of heart damage increases." Professor Al-Aly stressed.
Compared with the control group, covid-19 infected people were 72% more likely to develop coronary artery disease, 63% more likely to have myocardial infarction attacks, and 52% more likely to have stroke. Overall, people who have been infected with COVID-19 are 55% more likely to have major cardiovascular adverse events, including myocardial infarction, stroke and death, compared to non-infected people.
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The study authors point out that the number of people infected with the new crown virus in the world is now close to 400 million, and the number of new cases of heart disease caused by the new crown infection has reached 15 million so far. For anyone infected, heart health should be one of the items that must be focused on after an acute infection.
"The results we see are not optimistic." Professor Ziyad Al-Aly said, "COVID-19 can lead to serious cardiovascular complications and death. The heart is not regenerated after damage and is difficult to repair, and these heart diseases can have a lifelong impact. ”
Resources:
[2] COVID-19 infections increase risk of heart conditions up to a year later. Retrieved Feb. 8, 2022, from https://medicine.wustl.edu/news/covid-19-infections-increase-risk-of-heart-conditions-up-to-a-year-later/
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