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April 3, 2026Journal of Clinical MedicineOpen Access

COVID-19 recovery linked to ~35% higher risk of new-onset heart failure.

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Why the study?

While acute cardiac injury during COVID-19 is well documented, the long-term risk of new-onset heart failure in survivors remains a critical clinical concern.

Does COVID-19 recovery increase the risk of new-onset heart failure in survivors?

Comparison

Recovery from SARS-CoV-2 infection

Design

Systematic review and meta-analysis

Follow-up

25 months

Key result

COVID-19 recovery is associated with a 35% increased risk of new-onset heart failure (aHR 1.35), particularly among kidney transplant recipients and adults under 65.

Authors

AMAna Maria MihaiMMMonica MarcFLFlorina Lucaciu

Discussion

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Overview

May warrant long-term HF monitoring after COVID-19; extends evidence to transplant recipients and younger adults.

Key Points

  • To quantify the risk of new-onset heart failure in survivors of COVID-19 over a 25-month follow-up period.
  • Systematic review and meta-analysis of nine studies with over 400,000 survivors.
  • Databases searched include PubMed/MEDLINE and Scopus until January 2026.
  • Used a random-effects model for quantitative meta-analysis on six studies to pool adjusted hazard ratios.
  • Pooled analysis found a 35% increased risk of new-onset heart failure following COVID-19 recovery (aHR 1.35).
  • Observed significant heterogeneity (I2 = 92.62%) in risk profiles among survivors.
  • Risk highest in immunocompromised kidney transplant recipients (aHR 2.32) and adults under 65 (aHR 1.53).
  • Subclinical myocardial damage identified even among those with mild infections.

Structured PICO

Does COVID-19 recovery increase the risk of new-onset heart failure in survivors?

P
Population
Over 400,000 COVID-19 survivors from 9 high-quality studies (6 studies included in quantitative meta-analysis)
I
Intervention
History of SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19 recovery)
O
Outcome
New-onset heart failure during a 25 months prognostic follow-up periodhard clinical

COVID-19 recovery is associated with a 35% increased risk of new-onset heart failure over a 25-month follow-up, highlighting the need for long-term cardiovascular monitoring in survivors.

Limitations

  • Significant heterogeneity (I2 = 92.62%) reflecting diverse risk profiles among survivors

Cite This Study

Mihai et al. (2026) studied this question. COVID-19 recovery is associated with a 35% increased risk of new-onset heart failure (aHR 1.35), particularly among kidney transplant recipients and adults under 65.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69cf5ecb5a333a821460d654https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15072665
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