A recent study by researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, published in the journal eClinicalMedicine, revealed that individuals with long COVID face a higher likelihood of developing cardiovascular conditions like cardiac arrhythmias and coronary artery disease, even if they were not hospitalized during the initial infection. Both men and women with long COVID were found to have a higher prevalence of cardiac arrhythmias and coronary artery disease, with women also showing an increased risk of heart failure and peripheral vascular disease, according to Pia Lindberg from the Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institutet. However, the study did not establish a clear link between long COVID and stroke.
Long COVID has emerged as a significant global health concern, with a growing body of research indicating its potential to trigger secondary cardiovascular issues. The study examined the frequency of major cardiovascular events in individuals with long COVID compared to those without the condition. Among over 1.2 million individuals aged 18 to 65, approximately 0.7% had been diagnosed with long COVID, with a majority being women. Over a follow-up period of about four years, individuals with long COVID exhibited a higher susceptibility to cardiovascular disease.
During the observation period, around 18.2% of women and 20.6% of men with long COVID experienced some form of cardiovascular event, contrasting with 8.4% of women and 11.1% of men in the non-long COVID group. The study indicated that women with long COVID faced more than double the risk of receiving a cardiovascular diagnosis compared to those without the condition, while men had around a third higher risk. Lindberg emphasized the importance of structured follow-up for individuals with long COVID, particularly as many did not require hospitalization during the acute phase, potentially leading to overlooked secondary conditions.
