Bereavement and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Did the COVID-19 pandemic modify the established association between bereavement and cardiovascular disease (CVD)?In this Swedish nationwide cohort of individuals aged 30 years or older during the pre–COVID-19 (2018-2019; n = 5 365 829) and COVID-19 (2020-2021; n = 5 522 898) periods, bereavement was associated with increased risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, and other CVD events. Associations were stronger during the COVID-19 period, especially after loss of a partner or sibling, with distinct age-specific patterns by relationship type.These findings suggest that bereavement represents a high-risk period for developing CVD, with risks amplified during the COVID-19 pandemic, underscoring the need for targeted clinical attention.

Corresponding Author: Fen Yang, MD, PhD, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Nobels väg 13, 17177 Solna, Stockholm 11365, Sweden (fen.yang@ki.se).

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