Long COVID Linked to Increased Cardiovascular Disease Risk

A new study from Karolinska Institutet, published in eClinicalMedicine on April 2, 2026, indicates that individuals with long COVID face an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease. The research highlights that this risk extends to patients who were not hospitalized during their initial acute infection, suggesting that the condition’s impact on heart health is broader than previously understood.

The findings emphasize the need for systematic follow-up and the integration of long COVID into standard cardiovascular risk assessments. The study specifically identifies an increased risk of incident cardiovascular diseases, including coronary artery disease, heart failure, and cardiac arrhythmias.

Study Scope and Participant Data

The researchers analyzed data from more than 1.2 million people between the ages of 18 and 65. Within this group, approximately 9,000 individuals had been diagnosed with long COVID, representing about 0.7 percent of the total population studied.

Of those diagnosed with long COVID, two-thirds were women. To ensure the accuracy of the findings regarding new cardiovascular events, the researchers excluded individuals who had a prior history of cardiovascular disease or those who had been hospitalized during their acute COVID-19 infection.

Cardiovascular Event Rates and Gender Differences

Over a follow-up period of approximately four years, the study observed a higher incidence of cardiovascular events among those with long COVID compared to those without the diagnosis.

• Among women with long COVID, 18.2 percent experienced a cardiovascular event, compared to 8.4 percent of women without long COVID.
• Among men with long COVID, 20.6 percent experienced a cardiovascular event, compared to 11.1 percent of men without long COVID.

The researchers adjusted these results for several variables, including socio-economic status, age, and other known risk factors. Even after these adjustments, the disparity in risk remained significant.

The data indicates that women with long COVID had just over twice the risk of receiving a cardiovascular diagnosis compared to women without the condition. Men with long COVID had a risk approximately one-third higher than men without the condition.

Clinical Implications and Context

While previous research has largely focused on patients who required hospitalization for COVID-19, this study provides new insight into the risks for individuals who were treated at home or by a general practitioner. The results suggest that the absence of severe acute illness does not eliminate the subsequent risk of cardiovascular complications.

The identification of cardiac arrhythmias, heart failure, and coronary artery disease as primary concerns underscores the complexity of long COVID as a systemic health issue. These findings suggest that the condition can lead to secondary cardiovascular diseases regardless of the initial severity of the infection.

The research supports the necessity of integrating long COVID history into a patient’s overall cardiovascular risk profile to ensure appropriate monitoring and early intervention for potential heart-related issues.