Publication date: Nov 29, 2024
Background: The long-term risk of cardiovascular and thrombotic events following severe COVID-19 remains largely unknown. This study aimed to assess the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) within one year after hospital discharge in patients who received intensive care for severe COVID-19. Methods: A register-based nationwide case-control study on a cohort of patients with severe COVID-19 (cases) requiring mechanical ventilation and discharged alive without experiencing cardiovascular or thrombotic events during their hospital stay. Each case was matched (age, sex, district of residence) with up to 10 population-based controls. The primary outcome was ASCVD occurring after hospital discharge, defined as a composite endpoint, including myocardial infarction (MI), unstable angina pectoris and ischemic stroke. Secondary endpoints were MI, stroke, all-cause mortality, and venous thromboembolic events. Hazard ratio (HR) (95% CI) was used with adjustments for age, sex, socioeconomic factors, and co-morbidities. Results: In total, 31,375 individuals (70% men, median age 62 years) were included, of which 2854 had severe COVID-19 and 26,885 matched control subjects. The adjusted HR for ASCVD during the first year compared to control subjects was 3. 1 (95% CI 1. 7-5. 4). Adjusted HRs for secondary outcomes for myocardial infarction were 2. 0 (95% CI 0. 8-5. 3), for stroke 1. 9 (95% CI 0. 7-5. 3), for pulmonary embolism 49. 4 (95% CI 28. 0-87. 1), and deep venous thrombosis (DVT) 16. 0 (95% CI 7. 8-32. 6). Conclusions: Severe COVID-19 requiring intensive care was associated with a substantial increase in 1-year risk for ASCVD and venous thromboembolic events.
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Concepts | Keywords |
---|---|
Myocardial | cardiovascular events |
Nationwide | COVID-19 |
Socioeconomic | intensive care |
Stay | long term outcome |