To investigate the association between bereavement and the risk of incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) among Swedish adults before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Key Findings:
Bereavement was associated with higher adjusted rates of incident CVD across both periods.
Adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for incident CVD following partner loss was 1.30 (2018-2019) and 1.46 (pandemic).
Sibling loss had HRs of 1.16 and 1.23, but no significant period-related difference.
Elevated CVD risk was observed across various CVD events, highest within 90 days post-bereavement.
CVD risk increased with age for partner or parent loss, while stronger associations for child or sibling loss were noted in younger adults.
Individuals whose partner or child died from COVID-19 exhibited some of the highest CVD risks.
Interpretation:
The study suggests that bereavement is a critical period for increased cardiovascular vulnerability, highlighting the need for targeted clinical monitoring and preventive care.
Limitations:
Lack of data on smoking, obesity, and other cardiovascular risk factors may lead to residual confounding.
Reduced hospital utilization during the pandemic could bias CVD event diagnoses.
Generalizability may be limited due to Sweden's unique welfare system and pandemic response.
Conclusion:
Bereavement significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, especially in the acute post-loss period, warranting enhanced clinical attention for bereaved individuals.
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