A new study reveals that severe COVID-19 infections significantly increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes, comparable to individuals with a history of heart disease. Research from the University of Southern California (USC) indicates that patients hospitalized for severe COVID-19 in 2020 face a heightened risk of major cardiac events, which could influence future clinical guidelines for heart disease prevention.
Dr. Hooman Allayee, a professor at USC’s Keck School of Medicine and a senior author of the study, stated, “The question now is: Could this finding, along with subsequent studies, change international guidelines for preventive cardiac care, even in the absence of known heart disease?”
Early in the pandemic, it became evident that COVID-19 was associated with an increased risk of blood clots and cardiovascular issues during and after infection. However, there has been limited research on how long this risk persists and what factors contribute to it. Consequently, official clinical guidelines for preventing cardiovascular diseases in individuals who had severe COVID-19 are still lacking.
This new research, partially funded by the National Institutes of Health and published in the journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, aims to address this gap. The study analyzed data from over 10,000 COVID-19 cases using information from the U.K. Biobank—a large health database that tracks residents’ health over time. The research team from USC, UCLA, and Cleveland Clinic examined the relationship between COVID-19 infections and major cardiac events over nearly three years.
The findings indicate that hospitalization due to COVID-19 is equivalent to having coronary artery disease (CAD), meaning it increases the risk of future heart attacks and strokes similarly to a prior history of cardiovascular disease. In fact, the risk from COVID-19 hospitalization was found to be slightly higher.
However, this increased risk does not affect all patients equally. A genetic analysis revealed that individuals with blood types A, B, or AB who experienced severe COVID-19 faced a greater risk of future heart problems compared to those with type O blood. This suggests that genetic factors may play a role in determining cardiovascular risks following severe COVID-19.
The researchers hope their findings will help shape clinical guidelines established by organizations like the American Heart Association aimed at preventing heart issues. Currently, patients with certain CAD-equivalent risk factors—such as diabetes—are often prescribed statins and other preventive therapies even if they do not have a history of cardiovascular disease.
James Hilser, a doctoral candidate at USC and the study’s first author, emphasized the significance of their approach: “We’re the first ones to really approach this link from a clinical guidelines standpoint with the CAD equivalence analysis.”
As more studies emerge on this topic, healthcare professionals may need to reconsider how they manage patients who have had severe COVID-19 infections in terms of cardiovascular health. The implications of these findings could lead to enhanced preventive measures for those at risk of heart attacks and strokes following severe cases of COVID-19.
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