NAIROBI, Kenya – A global study has found that viral infections such as COVID-19, influenza, HIV, hepatitis C, and shingles may significantly raise the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and strokes.
The meta-analysis, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, reviewed 155 studies spanning several decades and concluded that both acute and chronic viral infections can elevate heart disease risk — sometimes immediately after infection and in other cases over the long term.
According to the study, influenza infections were linked to up to a sixfold increase in heart attack risk within a month of infection, while COVID-19 nearly doubled the risk of heart disease or stroke compared to those never infected.
“Viral infections don’t just cause fevers or fatigue — they can have hidden, lasting impacts on the heart and blood vessels,” the researchers warned.
Silent Threats Beyond the Lungs
The analysis found that viruses such as influenza, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can indirectly damage the cardiovascular system by triggering inflammation, abnormal blood clotting, and excessive immune reactions, which put stress on the heart.
Other viruses — including HIV, hepatitis C, cytomegalovirus, and shingles — were linked to chronic heart and stroke risks due to prolonged inflammation and immune system strain.
A separate study published in Cardiovascular Research reviewed 48 observational studies conducted between 1978 and 2024.
It found that individuals were more than five times as likely to experience a heart attack within 28 days of lab-confirmed influenza, underscoring the cardiovascular dangers of common viral infections.
Vaccines and Timely Treatment Can Save Hearts
Experts emphasize that vaccination and early antiviral treatment can dramatically lower these risks, especially for people with existing heart conditions or diabetes.
Annual flu shots, COVID-19 boosters, and antiviral medication for chronic infections can help prevent severe complications.
In Kenya, cardiovascular disease is an increasingly serious health burden. About a quarter of all hospital admissions are related to heart and blood vessel diseases, according to the Kenya Vital Statistics Report (2024).
The report also found that non-communicable diseases accounted for 61.7% of all registered deaths, with cardiovascular conditions making up 6.6% of the total.
Across sub-Saharan Africa, over one million people die annually from heart-related conditions, representing 5.4% of global cardiovascular deaths.
Globally, cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death, claiming 19.8 million lives in 2022, or nearly one in three deaths worldwide.
The findings underscore the growing need for integrated viral infection management and heart health monitoring, especially in vulnerable populations.
“We can no longer think of infections as short-term illnesses,” the report concludes. “They may leave behind a legacy of heart disease that surfaces months or even years later.”
