Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that your body needs for good health, but in the right amounts. Unhealthy levels of cholesterol can cause high blood cholesterol.
Cholesterol in the blood is carried on lipoproteins: Low-density lipoprotein (LDL), sometimes called “bad” cholesterol; and High-density lipoprotein (HDL), sometimes called “good” cholesterol.
In a study from King’s College London, scientists found that people with higher levels of “bad” cholesterol commonly linked to heart disease, were more likely to experience ongoing symptoms from both COVID-19 and non-COVID disease.
They analyzed blood markers from 4,787 people. This study compared blood markers taken from people living in the community, where the majority of people with COVID have been treated.
The team looked at the full spectrum of COVID-19, from people who had asymptomatic COVID-19 to Post COVID-19 Syndrome (long COVID), as well as participants who reported ongoing symptoms like COVID-19—such as a cough, headache, and fatigue—but who were found to have negative antibodies for the virus.
The analysis of blood markers also showed that those with COVID-19 symptoms for more than 28 days could not be clearly distinguished from those with non-COVID-19 illnesses of prolonged duration and that both had a set of compounds in their blood commonly seen in patients who are at risk of heart disease and diabetes.
The researchers say this association could mean that research looking at ways to treat other diseases might also play a role in COVID-19.
The blood markers in asymptomatic people had a healthier pattern that we know is associated with a lower risk of heart attacks and diabetes.
People with long-lasting symptoms showed higher levels of ‘bad cholesterol’, and unhealthy fatty acids.
The team says they were able to look at whether the changes they saw were specific to COVID-19 or whether they reflected something more general about prolonged symptoms.
What is interesting is that they saw the same pattern of harmful fats in people with long symptoms of COVID and non-COVID diseases.
The researchers think this might shed light on the experience of long COVID, and other conditions, where people take time to recover from illness.
This research follows a recent study led by the team which found one in six people to report having long COVID symptoms.
If you care about COVID, please read studies about the possible root cause of severe COVID-19, and common high blood pressure drug may prevent COVID-19 complications.
For more information about COVID, please see recent studies that some blood types could cause severe COVID-19, and results showing past COVID-19 infection, but not vaccination, could boost antibodies.
The study was conducted by Dr. Marc Österdahl et al and is available now on MedRxiv.
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