COVID-19 Linked to Significantly Higher Risk of Heart Rhythm Problems Compared to Flu, New Study Finds
WASHINGTON, D.C. – A large-scale study published today reveals that individuals who contracted COVID-19 face a substantially increased risk of developing potentially perilous heart rhythm abnormalities in the years following infection, compared to those who had influenza. The research, analyzing data from over 5.3 million patients, underscores the long-term cardiovascular consequences of COVID-19 and highlights the critical need for ongoing cardiac monitoring in those recovering from the virus.
The findings, published in[publicationname-[publicationname-[publicationname-[publicationname-source does not specify], demonstrate a heightened risk of life-threatening arrhythmias – irregular heartbeats – including ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation, and also atrial fibrillation and flutter, among COVID-19 patients. This research adds to a growing body of evidence indicating that the impact of COVID-19 extends far beyond the acute phase of illness, with meaningful implications for long-term cardiovascular health. Millions of Americans have been infected with COVID-19, and understanding these delayed cardiac effects is crucial for optimizing patient care and resource allocation.
Researchers compared outcomes for 4,037,160 COVID-19 patients and 1,270,965 influenza patients over a three-year period,evaluating all-cause mortality,and the incidence of various cardiac arrhythmias and heart failure. Initial analysis revealed pre-existing health differences between the groups; influenza patients had a higher prevalence of heart failure (3.6% vs 1.7%), ischemic heart disease (6.1% vs 4.2%), diabetes (10.8% vs 6.5%), and hypertension (24.8% vs 16.2%). The COVID-19 cohort, however, showed a greater percentage with chronic respiratory disease (17.3% vs 10.6%).
To account for these disparities, researchers employed propensity score matching, creating two comparable groups of 1,206,870 participants each. Even after matching, the study revealed a significantly elevated risk of several cardiac events in the COVID-19 group. Specifically, COVID-19 infection was associated with a 70.7% increased risk of ventricular tachycardia (HR, 1.707; 95% CI, 1.654-1.762), a 53.5% increased risk of ventricular fibrillation (HR, 1.535; 95% CI, 1.407-1.675), a 36.4% increased risk of atrial fibrillation (HR, 1.364; 95% CI, 1.343-1.385), a 29.6% increased risk of any cardiac arrhythmia (HR, 1.296; 95% CI, 1.279-1.313), and a 20.1% increased risk of atrial flutter (HR, 1.201; 95% CI, 1.181-1.222; all P* < .001).
Notably, the study also found a 24.5% increased risk of new-onset heart failure among those infected with COVID-19 (HR, 1.245; 95% CI, 1.229-1.260; *P < .001). Conversely, COVID-19 patients demonstrated a slightly reduced overall mortality rate compared to the influenza group (HR, 0.827; 95% CI,0.818-0.835).
“These findings suggest distinct cardiovascular sequelae following COVID-19 infection, underlining the importance of post-acute surveillance in this population,” the study authors concluded. “Further studies are needed to understand the clinical implications.” The research team emphasizes the need for continued monitoring of cardiovascular health in individuals recovering from COVID-19 to identify and manage potential long-term complications.
This article originally appeared on The Cardiology Advisor.