A groundbreaking new study has unveiled some chilling truths about the long-term health repercussions of COVID-19, underscoring what many experts have long feared. The research, which surveyed nearly 250,000 adults, found that individuals who contracted any form of COVID-19 in 2020 were twice as likely to experience severe cardiac problems—including heart attacks, strokes, or even death—over a period of three years compared to those who were never infected.

Those who suffered severe illnesses requiring hospitalization faced an even graver scenario, with nearly four times the risk of experiencing these life-threatening events compared to the uninfected group.

David Putrino, director of the Cohen Center for Recovery from Complex Chronic Illness at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, emphasizes the seriousness of these findings. "These results are undeniable and extremely troubling," he stated. "Current public health policies concerning COVID-19 are insufficient. We must inform the public about the long-term health risks associated with repeated infections of SARS-CoV-2."

The study, published on October 9 in the American Heart Association's prestigious journal *Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology*, drew data from the U.K. Biobank system. The analysis included over 8,000 adults who tested positive for COVID-19 in 2020, with around 2,000 requiring hospitalization, alongside a comparison group of nearly 220,000 uninfected adults.

Over the nearly three years subsequent to their COVID-19 infections, study authors observed that the risk of heart attack, stroke, and death remained doubled compared to the uninfected group, a dangerous trend that persisted without abatement over time. "The consistency of this risk was unsettling, with the increased likelihood noted in the first year repeating in the second and third years as well," noted Stanley Hazen, chair of the Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences at the Cleveland Clinic.

Surprisingly, individuals who were hospitalized for COVID-19 but had no previous history of heart disease showed elevated risks equivalent to those who did have underlying cardiovascular issues. "This is why we consider severe COVID-19 to be tantamount to an established risk for coronary artery disease," explained Hooman Allayee, a professor at the USC Keck School of Medicine.

However, it’s essential to note that none of the study participants were vaccinated against COVID-19, as vaccines weren’t available in 2020. Hazen remarked, "The study did not assess the impact of COVID-19 vaccination on cardiovascular risks, but I suspect it would be protective, as vaccines generally prevent infections from becoming severe."

Putrino reiterated the importance of preventive measures: "Our team continually advocates for infection prevention strategies, including vaccination, masking, and ensuring clean air, to mitigate acute COVID-19 infections and their long-term consequences."

As researchers delve deeper into how COVID-19 escalates cardiovascular risks, they suspect that factors like inflammation and clot formation may play substantial roles. Ziyad Al-Aly, chief of research and development at VA St. Louis Health Care, explains further: "COVID-19 may cause inflammation in the endothelial cells that line the blood vessels and activate pathways that increase clotting risks."

Interestingly, genetic factors also appear to influence cardiovascular outcomes. The study found that people with blood types A, B, or AB who were hospitalized for COVID-19 had a doubled risk of heart issues, while this did not hold true for individuals with blood type O.

Allayee expressed a desire to replicate the findings in more diverse populations, acknowledging that the U.K. Biobank primarily includes European ethnicities.

While the evidence is compelling, the research highlights a critical gap: about 20% of Americans had not received any COVID-19 vaccine shots as of last year, despite the known benefits of vaccination in reducing infection severity and resultant health risks.

Additionally, the study hinted that taking aspirin may mitigate cardiovascular risk in hospitalized patients. Sandeep Das, co-chair of the American Heart Association's COVID-19 CVD Registry committee, suggests that this data should spur a stronger focus on maintaining a healthy lifestyle: "Now is the time for individuals to be more proactive—eating healthily, exercising, controlling blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and quitting smoking."

As we move forward, it’s essential to recognize COVID-19 as a continued threat to public health longevity. Al-Aly cautions, "You might think you've forgotten about your COVID-19 infection, but it hasn't forgotten about you. Dismissing COVID-19 as merely a cold is a dangerous underestimation of its true impact."

In these uncertain times, understanding the long-term health implications of COVID-19 is more crucial than ever. Protecting yourself through vaccination and other preventive strategies may not just safeguard your immediate health, but also your heart's future.