### Long-Term Cardiovascular Risks Linked to Early COVID-19 Infections

New research has revealed that individuals infected with COVID-19 during the pandemic's initial wave faced significantly elevated risks of heart attacks, strokes, and death for up to three years post-infection. Especially for those who suffered severe cases of the virus, the cardiovascular risks were nearly quadrupled, a threat comparable to that posed by diabetes.

A study, funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and published in the journal *Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology*, indicated that early COVID-19 patients were twice as likely to suffer cardiovascular events as people who did not contract the virus. The study monitored around 10,000 individuals from the UK Biobank, including 8,000 who tested positive for COVID-19 and 2,000 hospitalized with severe cases between February 1, 2020, and December 31, 2020.

The research also unearthed genetic factors linking blood types to the severity of COVID-19's cardiovascular impact. Patients with types A, B, or AB blood were found to have more than double the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Conversely, those with type O blood exhibited a lower risk for severe outcomes from the virus.

Dr. David Goff, director for the Division of Cardiovascular Sciences at NIH's National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, emphasized the potential long-term cardiovascular implications posed by severe COVID-19. He advocated for more studies to develop effective heart disease prevention strategies for these patients.

The findings were derived from a cohort of unvaccinated individuals, highlighting a significant gap in understanding long-term risks among vaccinated populations. Study leader Dr. Hooman Allayee from the University of Southern California noted the necessity for further research to determine if the observed risks persist in more recent cases of severe COVID-19 and among more racially and ethnically diverse groups.

Given the study's limitations, inclusive of its predominantly white sample from the UK Biobank, future investigations are critical to ascertain if these cardiovascular risks apply universally. The broader effect of vaccination on mitigating these risks also remains an essential area for ongoing research.