Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 20, 2025

Hydra, a Computer-Based Platform for Aiding Clinicians in Cardiovascular Analysis and Diagnosis
07:51

Hydra, a Computer-Based Platform for Aiding Clinicians in Cardiovascular Analysis and Diagnosis

Published on: September 26, 2018

7.7K

Association between COVID-19 and subsequent vascular events in primary care patients in Germany

S Zappacosta1, A Cascarano2, M Konrad3

  • 1Real World Solutions, IQVIA, Basel, Switzerland; University of Paris Cité, Comparative Effectiveness Research, Paris, France.

Public Health
|November 20, 2022
PubMed

Insights

COVID-19 diagnosis did not increase the risk of vascular events (VE) compared to respiratory tract infections (RTI). This retrospective study found no significant association overall, with a slight exception in older adults for cardiovascular events.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular epidemiology
  • Infectious disease outcomes
  • Public health research

Background:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic has raised concerns about long-term health consequences, including vascular events.
  • Understanding the comparative risk of vascular events following COVID-19 versus other respiratory infections is crucial for patient management and public health strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between a COVID-19 diagnosis and the risk of a first-ever vascular event (VE).
  • To compare this risk with that observed in patients diagnosed with respiratory tract infections (RTI).

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective cohort study utilizing data from the Disease Analyzer Database (IQVIA) in Germany.
  • Inclusion of patients aged ≥18 years with at least one practice visit during the index period.
  • Propensity score matching was used to create comparable cohorts of COVID-19 and RTI patients.
  • Kaplan-Meier curves and Poisson models were employed for time-to-event analysis and incidence rate calculations.

Main Results:

  • A total of 58,904 patients were matched between the COVID-19 and RTI cohorts.
  • No significant association was found between COVID-19 diagnosis and increased VE incidence in females or males.
  • Overall, no significant association was observed across age categories, except for a decreased risk of cardiovascular VE in individuals aged ≥70 years (IRR: 0.78 [0.67-0.94]).

Conclusions:

  • COVID-19 diagnosis was not associated with an increased risk of developing vascular events compared to RTI diagnosis in this German cohort.
  • These findings suggest that COVID-19 may not pose a higher vascular risk than other respiratory infections.
  • Further research across diverse healthcare settings and regions is recommended to validate these preliminary findings.
Abstract

Keywords:
COVID-19Cardiovascular diseaseCerebrovascular diseaseGerman practiceReal-world evidence

More Related Videos

Fundus Photography as a Convenient Tool to Study Microvascular Responses to Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Epidemiological Studies10:11

Fundus Photography as a Convenient Tool to Study Microvascular Responses to Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Epidemiological Studies

Published on: October 22, 2014

19.2K
Author Spotlight: Assessing the Cardiovascular Profile of Patients with Metabolic Syndrome06:04

Author Spotlight: Assessing the Cardiovascular Profile of Patients with Metabolic Syndrome

Published on: September 27, 2024

1.0K

Related Concept Videos

Rheumatic Heart Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies01:22

Rheumatic Heart Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies

The key clinical manifestations of Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) include several distinct cardiac symptoms.Carditis, a hallmark of acute rheumatic fever, involves inflammation of the heart's endocardium, myocardium, and pericardium. Chronic RHD often results from recurrent episodes of carditis. Its symptoms include the following:Murmurs are caused by valvular damage, especially to the mitral and aortic valves. Mitral stenosis or regurgitation is common, with characteristic heart murmurs...
43
Psychoneuroimmunology: Cardiovascular Disease01:27

Psychoneuroimmunology: Cardiovascular Disease

Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) is a multidisciplinary field that examines how psychological factors, particularly stress, interact with the immune system and impact physical health. Research in PNI has shown that chronic or traumatic stress can disrupt both the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the sympathetic nervous system. These disruptions contribute to serious health conditions, including cardiovascular diseases.
A key area of focus in PNI is the relationship between stress and coronary...
65
Peripheral Arterial Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Evaluation01:21

Peripheral Arterial Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Evaluation

Clinical manifestationsPeripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) manifests through a range of symptoms, from the characteristic intermittent claudication to atypical presentations and severe complications in advanced stages. Intermittent claudication, a hallmark symptom of PAD, presents as exercise-induced muscle pain that typically resolves within minutes of rest. This pain is reproducible and stems from inadequate blood flow, leading to the accumulation of lactic acid produced during anaerobic...
24
Venous Thrombosis II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies01:20

Venous Thrombosis II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies

The key difference between Superficial Vein Thrombosis (SVT) and Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) lies in their location and severity.Clinical ManifestationsSVT typically presents with localized pain, tenderness, and redness along the course of a superficial vein, often accompanied by a palpable, cord-like structure under the skin. This condition is usually less dangerous than DVT but can be uncomfortable and may lead to complications such as cellulitis or, rarely, a clot extension into the deep...
26
Venous Thrombosis III: Interprofessional Care01:29

Venous Thrombosis III: Interprofessional Care

Venous thrombosis requires effective prevention and treatment strategies to improve patient outcomes and reduce potential complications.Prevention StrategiesHealthcare providers must prioritize preventing venous thromboembolism (VTE) for all adult patients upon admission. Interventions depend on bleeding and thrombosis risk, medical history, current medications, diagnoses, planned procedures, and patient preferences. Patients on bed rest should change positions every two hours and, if not...
16
Rheumatic Heart Disease I: Introduction01:23

Rheumatic Heart Disease I: Introduction

Rheumatic heart disease or RHD is a chronic condition that results from rheumatic fever, causing permanent damage to the heart valves.Etiology and Risk FactorsIt primarily arises from rheumatic fever, an inflammatory disease that can develop after untreated or inadequately treated group A streptococcal (GAS) pharyngitis. Streptococcus spreads through direct contact with oral or respiratory secretions. While the bacteria are the causative agents, factors like malnutrition, overcrowding, poor...
29