Even a mild Covid-19 infection can promote clogged arteries, in return for increasing the risk of heart attacks in some people, a new study shows.

Covid-19 virus infection is associated with the rapid growth of plaque in arteries integrated to supply blood to the heart muscle, also called coronary arteries, researchers wrote in a new study published in the journal, Radiology.

To make it worse, scientists found plaque in the arteries of those whose Covid-19 was not even serious enough to demand hospitalization.

Researchers also believe that the inflammation that comes with the infectious respiratory disease is likely to be the cause of the growth of arterial plaque.

“Inflammation of Covid-19 can lead to continuous growth in plaque, especially high-risk, non-calculated plaques,” said the director of cardiology at Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University and senior researcher, DR Junbo GE.

“It is important to predict a heavier cardiovascular patient load in the future as most infected individuals recover after acute SARS-COV-2 infection,” GE added.

“Patients with SARS-COV-2 infection have an increased risk of heart infarction, acute coronary syndrome and stroke for up to a year,” GE said.