Coronary Artery Disease May Increase Risk Of COVID-19 Infection

Coronary Artery Disease May Increase Risk of COVID-19 Infection

The risk of coronavirus infection in patients with coronary artery disease was 30% higher than average

Photo: Gracia Lam

Coronary artery disease appears to increase the risk of contracting COVID-19. This is indicated by a new study that American scientists have published on the resource medrxiv.org, intended for preprints.

Observational studies have previously shown that people with coronary heart disease (CHD) have a higher risk of contracting the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, and their infection is more severe. But such studies cannot rule out that the connection between diseases was accidental or due to concomitant factors. In a new scientific work, scientists decided to establish whether there is a causal relationship between coronary heart disease and COVID-19.

Scientists conducted a genetic study using the Mendelian randomization method. To do this, they took the previously known data on what genetic factors are associated with the development of ischemic heart disease. They also took advantage of the results of a recent study that demonstrated what genetic characteristics are associated with the incidence and severe course of COVID-19. It included data on 1,678 infected and almost 700 thousand uninfected people.

The authors of the study identified a group of people with predicted coronary heart disease (genetically predisposed to ischemic heart disease). It turned out that these people were sick with COVID-19 30% more often than the average population.

In the findings of the study, scientists write that their data suggests that a causal relationship is possible between coronary artery disease and COVID-19. This is the first study of COVID-19 risk factors using Mendelian randomization.

Scientists point out that during the COVID-19 pandemic, patients with coronary artery disease need to be given special attention during the prevention of infection.