Covid-19 can still kill: Virus can double heart attack, stroke risk, study warns

Covid-19 has left a long-lasting impact on those infected by it and even years after the exposure the risk remains significant. A recent study by Cleveland Clinic and the University of Southern California has confirmed our worst fears. It has been found that people who survive Covid-19 are twice as likely to suffer from a fatal heart attack, stroke or sudden death. The study finds that the elevated risk persists for up to three years of infection.

The study, published in the journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, finds out that the virus silently damages cardiovascular health in Covid survivors which calls for caution by people and a need to focus on heart health.

The study added that the risk was significantly higher for patients who were hospitalized for Covid-19 and that this factor was a stronger predictor of heart-related issues than a prior history of heart disease.

"The results could translate into a rise in cardiovascular disease globally,” said co-senior study author Dr. Stanley Hazen, chair of cardiovascular and metabolic sciences at the Clinic.

The authors of the study say that the long-term risk associated with Covid-19 continues to pose a significant public health burden, which needs to be investigated further.

For the study, researchers used UK Biobank data from 10,005 people who had Covid-19, and 217,730 people who were not infected by the virus. The period that was considered for this was from February to December 2020.

It was found that people with a blood type other than O (such as A, B or AB) were twice as likely to have cardiovascular problems after Covid-19 than those with an O-blood type.

Previous research has suggested that people who have A, B or AB blood types were also more susceptible to contracting Covid-19.

“The association uncovered by our research indicates a potential interaction between the virus and the piece of our genetic code that determines blood type and signals the need for further investigation,” Dr Hazen said.

“A better understanding of what Covid-19 does at the molecular level may potentially teach us about pathways linked to cardiovascular disease risk," the researcher added.

Covid's damaging effects could be silent at times. The virus may have adverse impact on lungs, heart, nervous system, kidneys, liver and other organs. Mental health problems are also part of long Covid symptoms.

(Images courtesy: iStock)