Individuals with blood types A, B, or AB are particularly at risk, underscoring the importance of personalized strategies for heart health in the aftermath of COVID-19.
COVID-19 and Cardiovascular Risk
Recent research led by the Cleveland Clinic and the University of Southern California has found that a history of COVID-19 can double the likelihood of experiencing a heart attack, stroke, or death. The study revealed that people infected with COVID-19 were twice as likely to suffer major cardiac events for up to three years after their diagnosis. This risk was significantly higher among those who were hospitalized due to COVID-19, even more so than individuals with a prior history of heart disease.
Genetic Factors and COVID-19 Complications
Genetic analyses indicated that individuals with non-O blood types (A, B, or AB) were at double the risk of severe cardiovascular events after COVID-19 compared to those with type O blood. The study was published on October 9 in the journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology and utilized data from the UK Biobank, encompassing 10,005 individuals who had COVID-19 and 217,730 who did not, during the period from February to December 2020.
Global Implications of Cardiac Risks Post-COVID
“Globally, over a billion people have been affected by COVID-19, and these findings highlight a significant healthcare concern,” said Stanley Hazen, M.D., Ph.D., co-senior study author and chair of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences at Cleveland Clinic’s Lerner Research Institute. “With nearly a quarter million participants in this study, the implications extend far beyond a small subgroup and suggest a potential increase in cardiovascular disease worldwide.”
The research team found that certain genetic variants associated with coronary artery disease and COVID-19 infection did not explain the heightened risk of cardiovascular events observed after COVID-19. Instead, the data pointed to a strong correlation between blood type and increased risk.
Research Findings and Future Directions
Prior studies have indicated that individuals with A, B, or AB blood types were also more susceptible to contracting COVID-19. “These findings reveal that while COVID-19 primarily affects the respiratory system, it has numerous health implications that should be considered when developing preventive strategies for cardiovascular disease,” Dr. Hazen noted.
“The observed association suggests a potential interaction between the virus and the genetic factors that determine blood type, indicating a need for further research,” he added. “A deeper understanding of the molecular interactions of COVID-19 could shed light on the pathways related to cardiovascular disease risk.”
Hooman Allayee, PhD, from USC’s Keck School of Medicine, also contributed to the paper. He emphasized the clinical significance of the findings: “Our data indicate that the risk of heart attacks and strokes is particularly heightened among COVID-19 patients with A, B, or AB blood types. Given that 60% of the global population has these non-O blood types, this raises critical questions about whether more aggressive cardiovascular risk reduction strategies should be implemented, potentially tailored to an individual’s genetic background.”
The research underscores that the long-term risks associated with COVID-19 continue to represent a substantial public health challenge, necessitating further investigation.