Why COVID-19 Survivors Are at Risk of Heart Attacks and Strokes

JAKARTA - A recent study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association (AHA) revealed that people who have been infected with respiratory viruses, such as COVID-19, have a higher risk of heart attack and stroke.

In the study, researchers conducted a systematic review of all studies examining the relationship between viral infections and the risk of stroke and heart attack. Of 52,000 scientific publications, the researchers identified 155 studies deemed to have appropriate methodological design and high quality, sufficient to conduct a meta-analysis.

The study then compared a person's cardiovascular risk within a few weeks of experiencing a laboratory-confirmed respiratory infection with that of a person who was not infected.

Through this study, the researchers found that the risk of heart attack increased up to fourfold, and the risk of stroke increased fivefold within a month after someone was infected with influenza.

In COVID-19 survivors, the risk of heart attack and stroke tripled within 14 weeks of infection. This risk remained high in COVID-19 survivors up to a year later.

"Our study found that both acute and chronic viral infections are associated with both short-term and long-term risks of cardiovascular disease, particularly stroke and heart attack," said lead study author Kosuke Kawai, Sc D, as quoted on the official AHA website on Wednesday, November 5, 2025.

According to the study, the reason COVID-19 survivors are at higher risk of heart attack and stroke is because the immune system responds to viral infection by releasing molecules. This triggers and maintains inflammation, as well as increasing the tendency for blood to clot.

This response can last a long time, even after the infection has cleared. Inflammation and blood clots can reduce the heart's ability to function optimally, and this is believed to be one reason for the increased risk of heart attack and stroke after a viral infection.

Inflammation plays a key role in the development and progression of cardiovascular disease. This condition can trigger the formation and rupture of plaque in artery walls, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes.