New Delhi, April 2: A recent study by researchers at the Karolinska Institute reveals that individuals suffering from Long COVID may face a significantly higher risk of heart-related diseases. Published in the journal ‘eClinicalMedicine’, the study found that those with Long COVID are more susceptible to issues such as cardiac arrhythmia and coronary disease, even among patients who were not hospitalized during their infection.
Researcher Pia Lindberg noted that both men and women with Long COVID exhibited a higher incidence of heart-related problems, particularly women, who showed increased risks for heart failure and peripheral vascular disease. However, the study did not establish a clear link between Long COVID and stroke.
According to the findings, Long COVID is emerging as a serious global health issue, with various studies indicating that it could lead to heart diseases in the future. The researchers analyzed the frequency of major heart-related events among individuals with Long COVID compared to those without.
The study involved approximately 1.2 million participants, of whom around 9,000 were identified with Long COVID, accounting for 0.7 percent of the total, with nearly two-thirds being women. Over a follow-up period of nearly four years, it was evident that individuals with Long COVID had a significantly higher risk of heart disease, with 18.2 percent of women and 20.6 percent of men experiencing some form of heart-related issue. In contrast, the figures for the non-Long COVID group were 8.4 percent for women and 11.1 percent for men.
The research indicated that women with Long COVID were more than twice as likely to develop heart disease, while men faced a risk approximately one-third higher. Researchers cautioned that since many individuals did not require hospitalization during their COVID infection, subsequent serious health issues might go unnoticed.
The study’s conclusions suggest that Long COVID could pose a risk of heart disease even for previously healthy and younger individuals. Experts recommend regular and systematic follow-ups for patients, particularly considering gender differences.