Covid increases the risk of heart attack and stroke for up to three years

Scientists reviewed data from more than 10,000 adults aged over 50 who tested positive for COVID-19 between February 1 and December 31, 2020 and found that those who contracted the illness either mildly or severely were more likely to have suffered a heart attack, stroke or even passed away in the following three years.

The health issues were comparable to cardiovascular risk factors such as type 2 diabetes and experts say that those who have been infected with Covid could benefit from cardiovascular disease prevention treatments.

James Hilser, lead author of the study at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, said: "We found a long-term cardiovascular health risk associated with Covid, especially among people with more severe COVID-19 cases that required hospitalisation.

"This increased risk of heart attack and stroke continued three years after COVID-19 infection.

"Remarkably, in some cases, the increased risk was almost as high as having a known cardiovascular risk factor such as type 2 diabetes or peripheral artery disease."

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