Long COVID Tied to Increased Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases, Finds Study
Sweden: Researchers have found in a prospective cohort study that long COVID is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, including cardiac arrhythmias, heart failure, and coronary artery disease. Further, this elevated risk was observed even in patients who were not hospitalized during their initial COVID-19 infection, highlighting the broader long-term cardiovascular impact of the condition.
The findings are from a large population-based analysis conducted by Pia Lindberg and colleagues from the Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, and published in eClinicalMedicine.
The study aimed to address an important gap in current evidence, as most prior research has largely focused on individuals who experienced severe COVID-19 requiring hospitalization, while the cardiovascular implications of long COVID in community-managed cases remain less understood.
For this purpose, the researchers utilized data from the Multimorbidity Integrated Registry Across Care Levels in Stockholm (MIRACLE-S), which captures healthcare information for approximately 2.5 million residents. Adults aged 18 to 65 years with a physician-diagnosed long COVID condition between October 2020 and January 2025 were included. Individuals with prior cardiovascular disease or those hospitalized during their acute COVID-19 infection were excluded to ensure a clearer assessment of new-onset cardiovascular risk.
The study evaluated a composite cardiovascular outcome, including myocardial infarction, heart failure, cardiac arrhythmias, stroke, and peripheral arterial disease. Advanced statistical models were applied to account for demographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, and mental health conditions.
The key findings were as follows:
- Among over 1.2 million individuals included in the analysis, approximately 9,000 were diagnosed with long COVID, with nearly two-thirds being women.
- The cumulative incidence of cardiovascular events was higher in individuals with long COVID compared to those without the condition.
- In women, the incidence of cardiovascular events was 18.2% in the long COVID group versus 8.4% in the control group.
- In men, the incidence was 20.6% among those with long COVID compared to 11.1% in controls.
- Long COVID was associated with an increased risk of overall cardiovascular disease.
- A significantly higher risk of cardiac arrhythmias and coronary artery disease was observed in both men and women with long COVID.
- Women with long COVID showed an increased likelihood of developing heart failure.
- An elevated risk of peripheral arterial disease was also noted among women with long COVID.
- No significant association was found between long COVID and stroke in either sex.
These findings add important insights to existing literature by demonstrating that even mild-to-moderate COVID-19 infections can have lasting cardiovascular consequences when followed by long COVID. The study also highlights notable sex-specific differences, suggesting that women may face additional risks for certain cardiovascular conditions.
The researchers emphasized that long COVID should be recognized as a meaningful cardiovascular risk factor, not limited to previously hospitalized patients. They underscored the importance of structured follow-up and incorporating long COVID into routine cardiovascular risk assessment. The results also point toward the need for increased clinical awareness and the development of targeted monitoring strategies in both primary and specialized care settings.
Reference: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(26)00093-3/fulltext
Next Story