COVID-19 doubles the risk of heart attack up to 3 years after infection

The risk of these serious health complications was still increased three years later. “This is an extraordinary finding,” says Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist and professor at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

Meet the experts: William Schaffner, MD, an infectious disease specialist and professor at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine; Infectious disease expert Amesh A. Adalja, MD, senior scientist at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security; Thomas Russo, MD, professor and chief of infectious diseases at the University at Buffalo in New York.

Given the ongoing spread of the virus (for example, the COVID summer wave) and the many variants since the virus first hit the headlines, it is understandable to have questions about what these findings mean for one’s cardiovascular health. This is what doctors want you to know.

Why are heart attacks increasing after COVID?

It’s important to note that the study did not find that overall heart attack rates have increased since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, an association has been found between the presence of one of the original virus strains and a higher risk of developing cardiovascular complications.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease, which includes heart attack and stroke, is the leading cause of death in the United States.

It’s not entirely clear why heart attacks may increase after someone has had COVID-19, but there are some theories based on how the virus might affect the heart.

COVID effects on the heart

Research has shown that COVID-19 can infect the cells that line the walls of blood vessels. SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, has also been detected in plaques that form in arteries, which can rupture and cause heart attacks and strokes in people infected with the virus.

“COVID tends to cause blood clots — it can cause blood clots in large and small vessels,” says Thomas Russo, MD, professor and chief of infectious diseases at the University at Buffalo in New York. “Having these blood clots increases your risk of a heart attack or stroke.”

In general, COVID-19 causes inflammation in the body, says Dr. Amesh A. Adalja, an infectious disease expert and senior scientist at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. “COVID infection triggers an inflammatory cascade that can impact the cardiovascular system,” he says. However, this does not only apply to COVID-19. “This also happens with other viruses such as influenza and RSV,” says Dr. Adalya.

But Dr. Schaffner says flu and RSV typically increase the risk of heart attack and stroke for a month to two months after infection — rather than three years. “This could be a similar phenomenon to long COVID, where there is a slow smoldering inflammation that persists and can infect the blood vessels leading to the heart,” he says.

Can COVID cause a sudden heart attack?

According to the CDC, a heart attack occurs when blood flow to the heart is blocked or severely restricted. The most common cause of a heart attack is coronary artery disease (CAD), which occurs when plaque builds up in the arteries that supply blood to the heart.

It is possible that you have COVID-19 and have a sudden heart attack. “In some cases, the inflammation can lead to instability of the plaques in the coronary arteries and lead to heart attacks,” says Dr. Adalya. Dr. Russo points out that people can have a buildup of these plaques even before they get COVID-19 — and something about the virus could trigger a cascade that leads to a heart attack.

But Dr. Schaffner says that “the ‘sudden’ part isn’t so clear.”

Should I be concerned if I catch a newer COVID variant?

The study specifically looked at people who had COVID-19 at the start of the pandemic, before there were vaccines or population immunity. Therefore, according to Dr. It’s difficult for Russo to say whether the risk of cardiovascular disease in people who become infected with the virus today is as high as it was back then.

“There is some uncertainty as to whether or not these findings are applicable to the Omicron era, as we believe the virus has become less virulent over time,” he says. “I have little doubt about it, but the impact may not be that great.”

Given the population’s high immunity to COVID-19 through vaccines and natural infections, the severity of the virus could be lower in people who become infected, says Dr. Adalya. As a result, someone infected with COVID-19 today may experience less inflammation than they did at the start of the pandemic.

Nevertheless, says Dr. Adalja said it is important for people to remember that COVID-19 can cause more than just a respiratory infection. “Infectious diseases like COVID can have cascading effects on multiple organ systems,” he says.

If you are concerned about the risk of cardiovascular complications from COVID-19, Dr. Schaffner receiving the new COVID vaccine. “If you need another reason to get your COVID booster shot, you’ll find it here,” he says.