Led by Professor Dong-Gun Yeon at Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, the research analyzed medical records from 7.96 million individuals in South Korea and 1.26 million in Japan, making it one of the most comprehensive studies on the long-term cardiovascular effects of COVID-19.
Long COVID, defined as symptoms persisting beyond four weeks post-infection, frequently includes cardiovascular complications. Previous studies, often limited to specific populations or single countries, lacked comprehensive analysis of long-term impacts, vaccination effects, and viral variants.
The study found that the COVID-19-infected group had a 62% increased risk of cardiovascular diseases compared to the non-infected group, with significant elevations in ischemic heart disease, heart failure, and cerebrovascular disease. Patients with severe COVID-19 faced cardiovascular risks up to tenfold higher. Vaccination reduced this risk by approximately 30%, demonstrating a protective effect.
The elevated cardiovascular risk remained consistent across the Delta and Omicron variant waves, persisting for up to 18 months post-infection before gradually declining. Absolute incidence rates were low, with stroke occurring in 0.24% of infected individuals, myocardial infarction in 0.05%, and major cardiovascular events in 0.15%. Researcher Seung-Ha Hwang noted, “While monitoring high-risk groups is crucial, the public should avoid excessive alarm.”
Professor Yeon emphasized, “Using extensive national healthcare data, we’ve confirmed that COVID-19 infection can increase long-term cardiovascular disease risk. This study underscores the need for enhanced cardiovascular monitoring and preventive strategies for high-risk patients post-infection.”
Health In News Team Lim Hye Jeong,
press@hinews.co.kr