Novel coronavirus, usually infects humans through the respiratory tract and causes damage to the respiratory system and human organs. Since the first outbreak at the end of 2019, the novel coronavirus is still raging around the world, causing a great negative impact on the world economy and society.
On 19th January 2023, Researchers at the University of Hong Kong published a research paper entitled: Association of COVID-19 with shortand long-term risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality: a prospective cohort in UK Biobank in Cardiovascular Research, an authoritative academic journal in the cardiovascular field.
The study found that infection with COVID-19 significantly increased both the short-term and long-term risk of cardiovascular disease, and increased the risk of death. COVID-19 patients had an 81 times higher risk of death within 21 days of infection, and the risk was still 5 times higher after 18 months.
In this study, the researchers analyzed 150,000 participants in the UK Biobank database, including 7,584 COVID-positive patients (March 2020-November 2020), 71,296 matched controls with uninfected participants, and 71,314 controls before the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2018-November 2020). Participants in both control groups had similar physical conditions to the COVID-19 group. The average age was 66 years, with almost equal numbers of men and women. The researchers analyzed the incidence of cardiovascular disease and deaths among infected and uninfected individuals.
The study found that COVID-19 patients are at a much higher risk of multiple cardiovascular diseases and death in the short and long term, including myocardial infarction, coronary heart disease, heart failure and deep vein thrombosis. In the short term, patients with COVID-19 have an elevated risk of certain cardiovascular diseases, such as stroke and atrial fibrillation, but then return to normal levels.
The risk was 4.3 times higher and the risk of developing severe cardiovascular disease was 81 times higher in the first three weeks after infection than in the same period controls. Moreover, the risk of developing severe cardiovascular disease was 40% higher and 5 times higher within 22 days to 18 months of infection.
In the first three weeks after infection, the risk of severe cardiovascular disease was five times higher and 67.5 times higher risk of death than controls before the coronavirus pandemic. Within 22 days to 18 months of infection, the risk of developing severe cardiovascular disease was 30% higher and had a 4.5 times higher risk of death.
Cardiovascular disease and mortality risk
In addition, within 22 days to 18 months of infection, COVID-19 patients had a significantly higher risk of developing pericarditis, with a 4.5-fold increased associated risk.
Importantly, a higher risk of severe cardiovascular disease or death was found in the subgroup analysis.
Researchers say patients with COVID-19 are more likely to develop multiple cardiovascular diseases than those with uninfected participants, which could lead them to a higher risk of death. After infection, they should be monitored for at least one year to diagnose cardiovascular complications of infection, which is part of long COVID-19.
The investigators stress that this study was conducted during the first wave of the pandemic and that future studies should evaluate subsequent outbreaks. Earlier studies showed that vaccination prevents complications and further research is needed to investigate the effectiveness of vaccination in reducing risk of cardiovascular disease.
In conclusion, studies have shown that infection with COVID-19 is associated with a high risk of short-term and long-term cardiovascular disease and death. After recovery, surveillance still needs at least one year to diagnose cardiovascular complications of infection.
