Long-COVID patients more likely to develop heart disease, study finds

Long-COVID patients face 37% higher odds of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to an analysis of a national survey published in the journal Clinical Medicine Insights: Cardiology. The study found 11.9% of people with long COVID have CVD, compared to 6.8% of those without the diagnosis.

Why is cardiovascular risk higher for long-COVID patients?

The analysis used self-reported data from the 2022 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, which included 8,332 participants with a history of COVID-19. Researchers found that long COVID—a chronic illness involving lingering symptoms after an initial infection—is associated with an increased likelihood of heart-related complications.

These findings align with a study from Sweden published earlier this year. While the diagnosis of long COVID isn’t fully understood, the data confirms a stronger prevalence of CVD in this patient population.

Did You Know? Long COVID affects an estimated 17.8 million Americans.

Which heart conditions are most prevalent?

Long COVID is specifically associated with a higher risk of angina (chest pain), which showed an odds ratio (OR) of 1.81, and myocardial infarction (heart attack), with an OR of 1.50, according to the journal.

The Impact of ´Long Covid´ on Cardiovascular Disease – Big Data@Heart

The data did not show an elevated risk for stroke (OR 1.28) or coronary heart disease (OR 1.23). The 95% confidence intervals for these two conditions ranged below 1, indicating no statistically significant increase in risk.

Expert Insight: Samantha Carter notes that the disparity between the risk of heart attacks and the lack of increased risk for stroke highlights a complex cardiovascular profile. This suggests that long-COVID interventions may need to be specifically tailored to certain types of heart distress rather than a general cardiovascular approach.

What happens next for long-COVID research?

Scientists state that these findings highlight a need for more research to improve health interventions for the millions of people affected. Future studies may focus on why certain conditions like angina are more prevalent than others.

Researchers could further investigate the timeline of new-onset CVD. The current analysis assessed new-onset CVD if the diagnosis occurred within a year after COVID-19 or in the same or following year of the illness.

Interestingly, the study found that people with pre-existing CVD were not more likely to report new long-COVID symptoms. This suggests the development of long-COVID may occur independently of prior heart health.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference in CVD rates between long-COVID patients and others?
According to the study, 11.9% of long-COVID patients have CVD, compared to 6.8% of those without the condition.

Which specific cardiovascular conditions are linked to long COVID?
The analysis found a higher risk of angina (chest pain) and myocardial infarction (heart attack).

Does having heart disease before COVID-19 increase the risk of long COVID?
No. The research indicated that those with pre-existing CVD were not more likely to report new long-COVID symptoms.

How has your approach to heart health changed since the pandemic?