(HealthDay News) — Being hospitalized with COVID-19 can increase the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), such as heart attacks and strokes, to a degree similar to that of coronary artery disease, a recent study suggests.
The findings were published in the journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology.
The research, led by James R. Hilser of the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, analyzed data from 10,005 COVID-19 patients treated between February and December 2020. The data was sourced from the UK Biobank and compared with two control groups: 217,730 individuals from the general population and 38,860 people matched by propensity scores for similar risk factors.
The study found that individuals who had contracted COVID-19 were at a significantly higher risk for major cardiovascular issues in the long term, with a hazard ratio of 2.09 across all cases. This risk was even higher among those who had been hospitalized due to COVID-19, with a hazard ratio of 3.85.
Hospitalization for COVID-19 posed a heart risk comparable to that of coronary artery disease. Interestingly, the study revealed that people hospitalized with COVID-19 who had no prior history of cardiovascular disease were more likely to experience MACE than individuals with a history of heart disease but without COVID-19, with a hazard ratio of 1.21.
The research also uncovered a genetic factor linked to blood type. People with non-O blood types who were hospitalized for COVID-19 were at an increased risk for blood clots, compared to those with blood type O.
“This heightened risk of heart attack and stroke persisted for up to three years after a COVID-19 infection,” said Hilser in a statement. “In some instances, the risk was nearly as high as known cardiovascular risk factors, such as type 2 diabetes or peripheral artery disease.”
The study’s authors noted potential conflicts of interest, with several having connections to the biopharmaceutical industry.
One author is also listed as a co-inventor on patents related to cardiovascular diagnostics and treatments held by the Cleveland Clinic.
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