Study Reveals SARS-CoV-2 Increases Risk of CVD and Death in Short- and Long-Term
A study published on Thursday in Cardiovascular Research reveals that SARS-CoV-2 infections and long COVID can increase the risks of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and death in the short- and long-term. The study was conducted by the European Society of Cardiology and evaluated the association between COVID-19 and the development of CVD and mortality.[0]
Analysis of the results of a population-based survey suggests that nearly 19 million U.S. adults may have long COVID, with some reporting symptoms more than 12 months after their initial infection.[1] The study, which was part of the National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C) and the RECOVER program, was able to define long COVID as presenting 28 days after the earliest COVID-19 date noted for outpatients and 28 days after the end of hospitalization for inpatients.[2]
A study revealed that 61% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients with high troponin levels had heart issues such as heart attack scarring or microinfarction scars. John Greenwood, the study's lead author, referred to the latter as “small areas of scar.”[3] 36% of hospitalized COVID-19 participants with normal troponin and 31% of those without COVID-19 who had normal troponin had a rate that was almost twice as high as the other group.[3]
Additionally, initially unvaccinated participants who were vaccinated after their COVID-19 infection had a 41% lower risk of PCCs lasting 6 months or longer. The CDC advises that “People not vaccinated against COVID-19 and who become infected may have a higher risk of developing post-COVID conditions compared to people previously vaccinated.”
The findings of the study point to the importance of regular monitoring of cardiovascular disease-associated clinical presentation till ≤1.0-year post-COVID-19 recovery to benefit SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals, particularly males with severe COVID-19. As time passes and the rate of COVID-19 transmission remains high, the health of British Columbia's citizens is deteriorating.[4] As we contemplate strategies to enhance health-care delivery, we should consider the increased demand for health-care services that will result from the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.[4]
0. “Study Results Link COVID-19 to Higher Risk of Cardiovascular Disease, Death” Pharmacy Times, 26 Jan. 2023, https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/study-results-link-covid-19-to-higher-risk-of-cardiovascular-disease-death
1. “Primary care plays a role in helping patients with long COVID symptoms by providing holistic, trustworthy care” EurekAlert, 23 Jan. 2023, https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/977204
2. “Six long COVID subtypes identified at The Jackson Laboratory” BioSpace, 26 Jan. 2023, https://www.biospace.com/article/releases/six-long-covid-subtypes-identified-at-the-jackson-laboratory
3. “Researchers take a closer look at what COVID-19 does to the heart” mySA, 27 Jan. 2023, https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/article/researchers-take-a-closer-look-at-what-covid-19-17747034.php
4. “Long COVID Has Never Been Taken Seriously. Here’s Where It Left Us” TheTyee.ca, 26 Jan. 2023, https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2023/01/26/Long-COVID-Never-Been-Taken-Seriously/
