NEW DELHI: People living with Long Covid are at a significantly higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, including arrhythmias and coronary artery disease, according to a new study by Karolinska Institutet published in eClinicalMedicine. The findings highlight that these risks persist even among individuals who were not hospitalised during their initial bout of Covid-19.
The study adds to growing global evidence that long Covid is not merely a lingering infection but a condition with potentially serious long-term health consequences. In India, where millions were infected during successive waves of the pandemic, doctors warn that the after-effects could translate into a substantial rise in cardiovascular disease burden.
Long Covid—marked by symptoms such as fatigue, breathlessness and brain fog weeks or months after infection—has increasingly been recognised as a multi-system disorder. While earlier research largely focused on hospitalised patients, the present study shifts attention to those who recovered at home or were treated in primary care settings.
Researchers analysed data from over 1.2 million individuals aged 18 to 65 as part of the MIRACLE-S cohort in Stockholm. Of these, nearly 9,000 people, or about 0.7%, were diagnosed with long Covid. Women constituted nearly two-thirds of this group. To ensure accuracy, individuals with prior cardiovascular disease or those hospitalised due to Covid-19 were excluded.
During a follow-up period of close to four years, a clear pattern emerged. Cardiovascular events were significantly more common among those with long Covid. Among women, 18.2% experienced such events compared to 8.4% in those without long Covid. Among men, the figures were 20.6% versus 11.1%.
Even after adjusting for age, socio-economic status and other known risk factors, the association remained strong. Women with long Covid were found to have more than twice the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, while men had about a one-third higher risk compared to those without the condition.
The study found that cardiac arrhythmias and coronary artery disease were the most frequent complications in both men and women. In women, there was also a higher risk of heart failure and peripheral vascular disease. However, no clear association was observed between long Covid and stroke.
Lead author Pia Lindberg noted that the findings are particularly significant because many individuals with long Covid were never hospitalised. This raises concerns that secondary complications may go unnoticed without systematic follow-up.
Researchers conclude that long Covid should be recognised as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, even among younger and previously healthy individuals, underscoring the need for long-term surveillance and care strategies.
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