Objective:

To investigate the association between long COVID and the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

Key Findings:

• Approximately 9,000 individuals were diagnosed with long COVID.
• Nearly 20% of women with long COVID experienced a cardiovascular event compared to less than 10% of women without long COVID.
• Long COVID was associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, particularly cardiac arrhythmias and coronary artery disease.

Interpretation:

The study indicates a significant link between long COVID and increased cardiovascular risk, necessitating ongoing monitoring and clinical awareness.

Limitations:

• Diagnosis of long COVID was based on a single ICD-10 code, which may not encompass all affected patients.
• Variability in the use of diagnostic codes across healthcare settings may affect the findings.

Conclusion:

Long COVID appears to be associated with a heightened risk of cardiovascular disease, underscoring the need for structured follow-up and evaluation in affected patients.