People who had a confirmed case of COVID-19 during the pandemic's first wave have twice the risk of heart attack, stroke and death compared to those who were never infected, according to research funded by the National Institutes of Health.
The study, published Oct. 9 in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, evaluated more than 10,000 COVID-19 infections between Feb. 1, 2020 and Dec. 31, 2020. The disease is associated with myocardial infarction and other major adverse cardiac events, but the study is among the first to explore the duration and determinants of these health risks.
Among the 2,868 hospitalized patients in this population, those infected with COVID-19 have a risk of heart attack, stroke, and death four times greater than that of those who were not infected.
The researchers, who work at California medical schools and Cleveland Clinic, also found these risks are long-lasting after a COVID-19 infection, which is different from other diseases.
Access the study here.