Covid linked to 33-fold increase in risk of pulmonary embolism

Data shows that catching Covid increases the risk of a potentially fatal blood clot on the lung in 30 days.

There has been a doubling in the incidence of blood clot deaths in England since the start of the Pandemic, according to the findings published in the British Medical Journal.

The risk of blood clot associated with Covid-19 vaccination is very small, but it is still very serious.

People with mild symptoms who don't need to be hospitalized have a small increase in the risk of blood clot.

It was not known for how long the risk of blood clot remained after catching Covid, and whether mild infections also increased people's risk.

Anne-Marie Fors Connolly and her colleagues at the University in Sweden measured the risk of DVT, pulmonary embolism, blood clot on the lung, and various types of bleeding.

They found a 33fold increase in the risk of pulmonary embolism, a fivefold increase in the risk of DVT and an almost twofold increase in the risk of bleeding in the 30 days after the infection. People were at increased risk of bleeding and DVT for two and three months after they became infections.

Patients with mild Covid had a threefold increased risk of DVT and a sevenfold increased risk of pulmonary embolism. Mild infections did not increase the risk of bleeding.

It is important to be aware of the risk of cardiopulmonary embolism.

The results were relevant even in the Omicron era, since current vaccines were highly effective against severe Covid but breakthrough infections were common even after a third dose of a vaccine.

Despite the potential for new variant of concern, most governments are removing restrictions and shifting their focus to determining how best to live with Covid. This study reminds us of the need to be careful when it comes to blood clot risks.