The key COVID-19 findings in vascular medicine, distilled into a clear, readable brief. The evidence is here whenever you want to go deeper.
INSIDE THIS MONITOR
41cited sources
7available findings
Study findings updated
AI-assisted evidence summary. For general information. These findings are not individual medical advice or a clinician endorsement.
THE SHORT VERSION
What’s worth knowing.
The key findings, what they mean, and the context that matters.
THE HEADLINE TAKEAWAY48.8% vs 33.4%; risk difference 15.4%
Death or cardiovascular hospitalization was more common after COVID-19 than influenza
Among US Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 or older, death from any cause or hospitalization for specified heart and circulation problems within 1 year occurred in 48.8% after Omicron-era COVID-19 hospitalization versus 33.4% after historical 2017-2018 influenza hospitalization.
The combined outcome included death from any cause or hospitalization for heart attack, ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack, blood clots in the lungs or deep veins, heart failure or cardiac arrest. The influenza group was historical; other design details are not recorded in this summary.
See the evidence
Within 1 year, composite risk of all-cause death or hospitalization for myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, heart failure, or cardiac arrest among Medicare beneficiaries aged ≥65 hospitalized with Omicron-era COVID-19 versus a historical 2017-2018 influenza hospitalization cohort.
48.8% vs 33.4%; risk difference 15.4% 95% CI: 15.1%-15.6%
Decker, Sérgio R R et al.. Long-term Cardiovascular Outcomes in US Medicare Beneficiaries After COVID-19 Hospitalization During the Omicron Era.. Circulation. Population health and outcomes. 2026.
The Long COVID vascular finding largely reflected elevated blood pressure
76%higher relative odds
Long COVID cases had 76% higher adjusted odds of an abnormal result on the study's blood vessel assessment than controls. The result largely reflected elevated blood pressure.
This population-based case-control study reports an association. An analysis limited to Long COVID cases reporting fatigue also found higher adjusted odds, but its reference group is not named. No timeframe or absolute risks are recorded in this summary.
See the evidence
76% higher relative odds, calculated from OR 1.76. This is not an absolute percentage-point difference.
Multivariable-adjusted odds of a vascular-domain deficit, largely attributable to elevated blood pressure, among long COVID cases versus controls
OR 1.76 95% CI: 1.04-2.97
Fernández-Sanlés, Alba et al.. Multi-organ structural and functional deficits in association with long COVID: a population-based case-control study.. EClinicalMedicine. 2026.
Multivariable-adjusted odds of a vascular-domain deficit, largely attributable to elevated blood pressure, when long COVID cases were restricted to those reporting fatigue
OR 3.04 95% CI: 1.36-6.80
Fernández-Sanlés, Alba et al.. Multi-organ structural and functional deficits in association with long COVID: a population-based case-control study.. EClinicalMedicine. 2026.
The Long COVID vascular finding largely reflected elevated blood pressure
76%higher relative odds
Long COVID cases had 76% higher adjusted odds of an abnormal result on the study's blood vessel assessment than controls. The result largely reflected elevated blood pressure.
This population-based case-control study reports an association. An analysis limited to Long COVID cases reporting fatigue also found higher adjusted odds, but its reference group is not named. No timeframe or absolute risks are recorded in this summary.
Study details & original results
Fernández-Sanlés, Alba et al.. Multi-organ structural and functional deficits in association with long COVID: a population-based case-control study.. EClinicalMedicine. 2026.
Multivariable-adjusted odds of a vascular-domain deficit, largely attributable to elevated blood pressure, among long COVID cases versus controls
OR 1.76 95% CI: 1.04-2.97
Multivariable-adjusted odds of a vascular-domain deficit, largely attributable to elevated blood pressure, when long COVID cases were restricted to those reporting fatigue
OR 3.04 95% CI: 1.36-6.80
76% higher relative odds, calculated from OR 1.76. This is not an absolute percentage-point difference.
Death or cardiovascular hospitalization was more common after COVID-19 than influenza
48.8% vs 33.4%; risk difference 15.4%
Among US Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 or older, death from any cause or hospitalization for specified heart and circulation problems within 1 year occurred in 48.8% after Omicron-era COVID-19 hospitalization versus 33.4% after historical 2017-2018 influenza hospitalization.
The combined outcome included death from any cause or hospitalization for heart attack, ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack, blood clots in the lungs or deep veins, heart failure or cardiac arrest. The influenza group was historical; other design details are not recorded in this summary.
Study details & original results
Decker, Sérgio R R et al.. Long-term Cardiovascular Outcomes in US Medicare Beneficiaries After COVID-19 Hospitalization During the Omicron Era.. Circulation. Population health and outcomes. 2026.
Within 1 year, composite risk of all-cause death or hospitalization for myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, heart failure, or cardiac arrest among Medicare beneficiaries aged ≥65 hospitalized with Omicron-era COVID-19 versus a historical 2017-2018 influenza hospitalization cohort.
48.8% vs 33.4%; risk difference 15.4% 95% CI: 15.1%-15.6%
Dates show when findings were added here, not when papers were published. Study populations and comparisons differ.
WHEN YOU WANT TO GO DEEPERSee all 7 findingsOriginal results, comparisons and study details.
4 of 4 source groupsFindings stay together with their study.
SOURCE 412 findings
Fernández-Sanlés, Alba et al.. Multi-organ structural and functional deficits in association with long COVID: a population-based case-control study.. EClinicalMedicine. 2026.
Multivariable-adjusted odds of a vascular-domain deficit, largely attributable to elevated blood pressure, when long COVID cases were restricted to those reporting fatigue
Decker, Sérgio R R et al.. Long-term Cardiovascular Outcomes in US Medicare Beneficiaries After COVID-19 Hospitalization During the Omicron Era.. Circulation. Population health and outcomes. 2026.
Within 1 year, composite risk of all-cause death or hospitalization for myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, heart failure, or cardiac arrest among Medicare beneficiaries aged ≥65 hospitalized with Omicron-era COVID-19 versus a historical 2017-2018 influenza hospitalization cohort.
Added
48.8% vs 33.4%; risk difference 15.4%95% CI: 15.1%-15.6%Source [40]
SOURCE 013 findings
Xie Y, Xu E, Bowe B, Al-Aly Z. Long-term cardiovascular outcomes of COVID-19. Nature Medicine. 2022;28(3):583-590.
Taquet M, Dercon Q, Harrison PJ. Six-month sequelae of post-vaccination SARS-CoV-2 infection: A retrospective cohort study of 10,024 breakthrough infections. Brain Behav Immun. 2022;103:154-162.
Ramacciotti E, Barile Agati L, Calderaro D, et al. Rivaroxaban versus no anticoagulation for post-discharge thromboprophylaxis after hospitalisation for COVID-19 (MICHELLE). Lancet. 2022;399(10319):50-59.
Szeghy RE, Province VM, Gideon DM, et al. Endothelial dysfunction is associated with post-acute COVID-19 syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Vasc Med. 2022;27(3):289-297.
Haffke M, Freitag H, Rudolf G, et al. Endothelial dysfunction and altered endothelial biomarkers in patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). J Transl Med. 2022;20(1):138.
Chioh FW, Fong SW, Young BE, et al. Convalescent COVID-19 patients are susceptible to endothelial dysfunction due to persistent immune activation. Elife. 2021;10:e64909.
Stahl K, Gronski PA, Kiber Y, et al. Injury to the endothelial glycocalyx in critically ill patients with COVID-19. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2020;202(8):1178-1181.
Ratchford SM, Stickford JL, Province VM, et al. Vascular alterations among young adults with SARS-CoV-2. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2021;320(1):H404-H410.
Bruno RM, Spronck B, Hametner B, et al. Covid-19 effects on ARTErial StIffness and vascular ageiNg: CARTESIAN study rationale and protocol. Artery Res. 2021;27(2):59-66.
Tudoran C, Tudoran M, Lazureanu VE, et al. Evidence of pulmonary arterial hypertension after SARS-CoV-2 infection in subjects without previous significant cardiovascular pathology. J Clin Med. 2021;10(2):199.
Malas MB, Naazie IN, Elsayed N, et al. Thromboembolism risk of COVID-19 is high and associated with a higher risk of mortality: A systematic review and meta-analysis. EClinicalMedicine. 2020;29:100639.
Bilaloglu S, Aphinyanaphongs Y, Jones S, Iturrate E, Hochman J, Berger JS. Thrombosis in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in a New York City health system. JAMA. 2020;324(8):799-801.
Charfeddine S, Ibn Hadj Amor H, Jdidi J, et al. Long COVID 19 syndrome: Is it related to microcirculation and endothelial dysfunction? Insights from TUN-EndCOV study. Front Cardiovasc Med. 2021;8:745758.
Ackermann M, Verleden SE, Kuehnel M, et al. Pulmonary vascular endothelialitis, thrombosis, and angiogenesis in Covid-19. N Engl J Med. 2020;383(2):120-128.
Goshua G, Pine AB, Meizlish ML, et al. Endotheliopathy in COVID-19-associated coagulopathy: Evidence from a single-centre, cross-sectional study. Lancet Haematol. 2020;7(8):e575-e582.
Goldman IA, Ye K, Scheinfeld MH. Lower-extremity arterial thrombosis associated with COVID-19 is characterized by greater thrombus burden and increased rate of amputation and death. Radiology. 2020;297(2):E263-E269.
Moores LK, Tritschler T, Brosnahan S, et al. Prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of VTE in patients with coronavirus disease 2019: CHEST Guideline and Expert Panel Report. Chest. 2020;158(3):1143-1163.
Ambrosino P, Calcaterra IL, Mosella M, et al. Endothelial dysfunction in COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Biomedicines. 2022;10(4):812.
Invernizzi A, Torre A, Parrulli S, et al. Retinal findings in patients with COVID-19: Results from the SERPICO-19 study. EClinicalMedicine. 2020;27:100550.
Schnaubelt S, Jirak P, Giannitsis E, et al. Comprehensive assessment of arterial stiffness and hemodynamic parameters in COVID-19 patients. J Am Heart Assoc. 2021;10(16):e022068.
Townsend L, Fogarty H, Dyer A, et al. Prolonged elevation of D-dimer levels in convalescent COVID-19 patients is independent of the acute phase response. J Thromb Haemost. 2021;19(4):1064-1070.
Chi G, Lee JJ, Jamber A, et al. Venous thromboembolism among hospitalized patients with COVID-19 undergoing thromboprophylaxis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Clin Med. 2020;9(8):2489.
Nopp S, Moik F, Jilma B, Pabinger I, Ay C. Risk of venous thromboembolism in patients with COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Res Pract Thromb Haemost. 2020;4(7):1178-1191.
Klok FA, Kruip MJHA, van der Meer NJM, et al. Incidence of thrombotic complications in critically ill ICU patients with COVID-19. Thromb Res. 2020;191:145-147.
Connors JM, Brooks MM, Sciurba FC, et al. Effect of antithrombotic therapy on clinical outcomes in outpatients with clinically stable symptomatic COVID-19: The ACTIV-4B randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2021;326(17):1703-1712.
Spyropoulos AC, Connors JM, Douketis JD, et al. Scientific and Standardization Committee communication: Clinical guidance on the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of venous thromboembolism in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. J Thromb Haemost. 2020;18(8):1859-1865.
Bikdeli B, Madhavan MV, Jimenez D, et al. COVID-19 and thrombotic or thromboembolic disease: Implications for prevention, antithrombotic therapy, and follow-up. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2020;75(23):2950-2973.
Carsana L, Sonzogni A, Nasr A, et al. Pulmonary post-mortem findings in a series of COVID-19 cases from northern Italy: A two-centre descriptive study. Lancet Infect Dis. 2020;20(10):1135-1140.
Decker, Sérgio R R et al.. Long-term Cardiovascular Outcomes in US Medicare Beneficiaries After COVID-19 Hospitalization During the Omicron Era.. Circulation. Population health and outcomes. 2026.
Fernández-Sanlés, Alba et al.. Multi-organ structural and functional deficits in association with long COVID: a population-based case-control study.. EClinicalMedicine. 2026.
This is an AI-assisted evidence summary, not a clinician endorsement. Read each original paper for its complete methods, population and limitations. Different studies can ask different questions and report different kinds of results.
Dates marked “added” describe when a finding entered this monitor, not when the study was published or clinically reviewed. Personal health and treatment decisions belong in a conversation with a qualified clinician.