Covid-19 infections 'significantly increase' risk of blood clots, major study finds

ANYONE who has had Covid-19 faces an increased risk of serious blood clots for up to six months, according to a new study.
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Researchers from Sweden discovered a ‘significantly increased’ risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) up to three months after infection - and there is a higher risk of a blood clot in the lung up to six months later.

The findings show people with underlying health problems are most at risk, as are those with more severe Covid-19.

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Risks were higher during the first wave of the pandemic compared to the second and third waves.

The NHS updated its listed of symptoms on Friday. Picture: JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images.The NHS updated its listed of symptoms on Friday. Picture: JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images.
The NHS updated its listed of symptoms on Friday. Picture: JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images.

Researchers said this could reflect the role of vaccines and treatments, particularly for older people, in cutting their chances of suffering complications.

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The study looked at data for more than a million people in Sweden who tested positive between February 2020 and May 2021.

They were compared to more than four million people without the virus.

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In absolute terms, it means a first case of DVT occurred in 401 patients with Covid-19 – representing a 0.04 per cent chance of developing the condition compared to a 0.01 per cent risk for those who have avoided Covid-19.

The team from Umea University concluded: ‘Our findings arguably support thromboprophylaxis (preventative treatment) to avoid thrombotic events, especially for high risk patients, and strengthen the importance of vaccination against Covid-19.’

It comes as the pandemic continues to put pressure on health services across the country, with Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth declaring a critical incident with all beds occupied and A&E at capacity.

Almost every hospital bed across Hampshire and Isle of Wight is full, with more than 650 people with Covid cared for in hospitals across the region – more than two and a half times higher than in early January during the peak of winter

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Covid rates in England are the highest they have ever been, and the two variants of Omicron have caused twin peaks in the pandemic – one in January and another in March.

The number of people with Covid-19 in hospital in the UK has also climbed to its highest level for more than 13 months.

Government figures show that a total of 20,398 patients were in hospital on Monday.

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