People with long COVID are at increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, according to a new study from Karolinska Institutet published in eClinicalMedicine. The results show that the risk of conditions such as cardiac arrhythmias and coronary artery disease is higher even among those who were not hospitalized during the acute infection.
Long COVID has become an increasingly significant health problem worldwide, and a growing number of studies suggest that the condition can lead to secondary cardiovascular diseases. To date, research has mainly focused on people who were hospitalised, whilst the risks for those who stayed at home or were treated at a GP are less well known. In the current study, the researchers investigated how often major cardiovascular events occur in these individuals compared with those without the diagnosis.
Of the just over 1.2 million people aged between 18 and 65 included in the study, around 9,000 had been diagnosed with long COVID, corresponding to 0.7 per cent. Two-thirds of them were women. People who had previously had cardiovascular disease or been hospitalised for COVID-19 were excluded from this group.
When the researchers then adjusted the results for factors such as age, socio-economic status and other known risk factors, the differences remained. Women with long COVID had just over twice the risk of receiving a cardiovascular diagnosis compared with women without long COVID. Men had approximately a third higher risk.
We found that cardiac arrhythmias and coronary artery disease were more common among both women and men with long COVID. In women, there was also an increased risk of heart failure and peripheral vascular disease. However, no clear association was found between long COVID and stroke.”
Pia Lindberg, lead author, nurse and PhD student, Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institutet
As many people with long COVID never required hospitalisation during their acute infection, there is a risk that secondary conditions may be missed, says Pia Lindberg, pointing out that the results suggest these patients may need to be monitored more systematically.
“Our results show that long COVID can be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, even in younger people who were previously healthy. This underlines the need for structured follow-up that takes gender differences into account, particularly as cardiovascular disease in women often presents with more diffuse symptoms that can make diagnosis more difficult”, concludes Pia Lindberg.
The study was conducted in collaboration between Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, the Academic Primary Care Centre/Region Stockholm and Uppsala University.
The research was funded by Region Stockholm and the Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation.
News – Curated by Amanda Scott, Alias Group Creative
Follow her on Bluesky
Cancer Mystery Solved: Scientists Discover How Melanoma Becomes “Immortal”
Scientists have uncovered a previously overlooked mechanism that may help melanoma cells become effectively “immortal.” Cancer cells face a major problem before they can become deadly: They have to figure out how to stop [...]
How Visual Neurons Organize Thousands of Synaptic Inputs
Summary: A new study uncovered the organizational rules that determine how neurons in the primary visual cortex process information. By imaging both the cell bodies (soma) and the individual synapses (on dendritic spines) of [...]
Scientists Just Found a Surprising Way To Destroy “Forever Chemicals”
Scientists have uncovered a new mechanism that may help break down highly persistent PFAS pollutants. PFAS have earned the nickname “forever chemicals” for a reason. These industrial compounds are so chemically durable that they [...]
Scientists Discover Cheap Material That Kills Deadly Superbugs
A new sulfur-rich antimicrobial polymer shows strong effectiveness against fungal and bacterial pathogens and may offer an affordable solution to antimicrobial resistance. Antimicrobial resistance is creating growing challenges for both healthcare and food production, [...]
What to Know About Cicada, or BA.3.2, the Latest SARS-CoV-2 Variant Under Monitoring
Like periodical cicadas, the insects for which it is nicknamed, SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariant BA.3.2 is only just beginning to emerge after lying low for an extended period since it first appeared. Although it was [...]
Scientists Say This Simple Supplement May Actually Reverse Heart Disease
Scientists in Japan say a common supplement may actually help “unclog” certain diseased heart arteries from the inside out. A simple food supplement sold in Japan may have helped reverse a dangerous form of [...]
New breakthrough against radiation: Korean Scientists create revolutionary shield with nanotechnology
Korean Scientists develop new nanotechnology material capable of reducing radiation impacts in space missions, hospitals, and power plants. The search for more efficient protection technologies in extreme environments has just gained an important advance. Korean [...]
Scientists Just Discovered the Hidden Trick That Keeps Your Cells Alive
A strange bead-like motion inside cells may be the secret to keeping their DNA—and health—in balance. Mitochondria are often described as the power plants of the cell because they produce the energy cells need [...]
Scientists Discover Stem Cells That Could Regrow Teeth and Bone
Scientists just uncovered the cellular “blueprint” that could one day let us regrow real teeth. Researchers at Science Tokyo have uncovered two distinct stem cell lineages that play a central role in forming tooth [...]
Scientists Uncover Fatal Weakness in “Zombie Cells” Linked to Cancer
A newly identified weakness in “zombie” cells may open the door to more precise cancer treatments by turning their own survival strategy against them. A new class of drugs takes advantage of a recently [...]
Bowel and Ovarian Cancers Are Dramatically Rising in Young Adults, Scientists Aren’t Sure Why
Cancer incidence is increasing, especially among younger adults, and current risk factors don’t fully account for the trend. Scientists suggest other underlying causes may be contributing. Cancer patterns in England are shifting in a [...]
New Immune Pathway Could Supercharge mRNA Cancer Vaccines
A surprising backup system in the immune response to mRNA vaccines may hold the key to more effective cancer treatments. The arrival of mRNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 in 2020 marked a turning point in the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, [...]
Scientists Discover “Molecular Switch” That Fuels Alzheimer’s Brain Inflammation
A newly identified trigger of brain inflammation could offer a fresh target for slowing Alzheimer’s progression. The brain has its own built-in immune system that identifies threats and responds to them. In Alzheimer’s disease, growing evidence [...]
Molecular Manufacturing: The Future of Nanomedicine – New book from NanoappsMedical Inc.
This book explores the revolutionary potential of atomically precise manufacturing technologies to transform global healthcare, as well as practically every other sector across society. This forward-thinking volume examines how envisaged Factory@Home systems might enable the cost-effective [...]
Forgotten Medicinal Plant Shows Promise in Fighting Dangerous Superbugs
A traditional medicinal plant, tormentil, shows promise against antibiotic-resistant bacteria in laboratory tests. Its compounds work by limiting bacterial growth and boosting antibiotic performance. Before the development of modern antibiotics, plant-based remedies were commonly [...]
NanoMedical Brain/Cloud Interface – Explorations and Implications. A new book from Frank Boehm
New book from Frank Boehm, NanoappsMedical Inc Founder: This book explores the future hypothetical possibility that the cerebral cortex of the human brain might be seamlessly, safely, and securely connected with the Cloud via [...]
