When COVID-19 swept across the globe, isolation, social distancing and wearing masks became the norm.
Since then, more than 20 million people have lost their lives to the virus. And now, there is a new risk for anyone who has ever tested positive.
“What was surprising to find is just having a COVID-positive test was associated with a two-fold increased risk in heart attack, stroke, and death risk,” said Dr. Stanley Hazen, a cardiologist for Preventative Cardiology & Rehabilitation at Cleveland Clinic.
In a study of more than 250,000 people, Hazen found that the risk wasn’t just immediately after the virus ran its course.
“The risk extends for as long as follow-up information was available. So as far out to three years,” he told Ivanhoe.
And the worse the infection, the higher the risk of heart attack, stroke and death.
“People who had severe COVID were at an even substantial increased risk, not twofold, but like three to sevenfold increased risk. If they had severe COVID, meaning they were hospitalized for their COVID, the risk was equivalent as if they had one heart attack,” Hazen said.
And the long-term risk for heart disease following a COVID infection was true for anyone, even if they didn’t have any other risk factors of heart disease.
“COVID doesn’t care if you’re a man or a woman, young, old, have disease or not,” explained Hazen.
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So what can you do?
“So preventive efforts such as vaccines and boosters we anticipate will reduce your long-term risk for post-COVID cardiovascular disease,” said Hazen.
He hopes physicians will now ask their patients about their COVID history and help protect their hearts, as well.
Previous research found that people who have A, B or AB blood types are more susceptible to contracting COVID-19. And now this new study found people who got COVID and have a blood type other an O had a 65% risk of experiencing a heart attack or stroke, compared to people who are type O.
