High Cholesterol and COVID-19: What’s the Connection?

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance in the body. It is important for making cell membranes and producing certain hormones and vitamins.

Experts are observing changes in cholesterol levels in COVID-19 patients. Specifically, when a person gets her COVID-19, her LDL-C, HDL-C, and total cholesterol levels drop.

according to 2022 research paper, a variety of other viral, bacterial, and parasitic infections may lead to similar findings. Examples of other viruses that can lead to changes in cholesterol levels include:

Experts currently do not know how COVID-19 will lead to lower cholesterol levels. Overall, experts believe that inflammation increases during infection. affect different pathways It is involved in the production, transport, and metabolism of cholesterol in the body.

In COVID-19, the degree of reduction in cholesterol levels may be associated with disease severity.a 2022 Research Review At admission, severe COVID-19 patients were found to have low levels of:

• total cholesterol
• LDL-C
• HDL-C

according to researcher, HDL-C has anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic effects. Therefore, a sharp drop in HDL-C during COVID-19 may increase the risk of problems with high levels of inflammation and blood clots.

Cholesterol plays an important role in the body, but too much can be harmful. Too much cholesterol in the blood usually results in high cholesterol.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 38% of adults Cholesterol is high in America. So you might wonder if high cholesterol puts him at an increased risk of contracting COVID-19.

High cholesterol is not currently included in the CDC Condition list Increase your risk of COVID-19. However, some conditions that commonly occur with high cholesterol are:

High cholesterol may increase your risk of contracting COVID-19

a 2021 Survey Higher body mass index and cholesterol were found to be associated with COVID-19 cases and deaths.

The researchers suggested that this finding may be one reason why regions of the world with higher rates of obesity and high cholesterol have seen more COVID-19 cases and deaths. .

another 2021 Survey Using data from the UK Biobank, we investigated the effect of cholesterol on COVID-19 susceptibility. After analysis, researchers found that higher total cholesterol was associated with greater susceptibility to COVID-19.

How does high cholesterol increase your risk?

Cholesterol is present in the membranes of cells in the body. Therefore, high cholesterol may facilitate viral entry into host cells and increase susceptibility to COVID-19.

a 2021 Survey I investigated this idea. In the lab, an expert loaded cell membranes with extra blood-derived cholesterol, exposing them to a test virus containing the spike protein of his SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Did. Researchers confirmed that infection was higher in cholesterol-loaded cells.

They suggested that the virus infected cells with high cholesterol more effectively, which may add another reason why COVID-19 may be more severe in older people.

High HDL-C may protect against COVID-19

a Research in 2022 We also examined the effect of cholesterol levels on the risk of developing COVID-19. Researchers found that having high levels of HDL-C was associated with her reduced risk of contracting COVID-19.

Experts find lowest risk in people with high levels of HDL-C When Low levels of LDL-C.

Unlike other studies discussed, total cholesterol and other types of cholesterol, such as LDL-C, were not independently associated with the risk of developing COVID-19.

Long COVID is a collection of symptoms that last for weeks, months, or even years after contracting COVID-19. People who have had COVID for a long time may experience a variety of symptoms. Here are some examples:

Infection with COVID-19 can change your cholesterol levels. But are there people whose cholesterol levels continue to change after recovering from COVID-19?

a Research in 2021 We followed up people who came to the hospital with COVID-19 3-6 months later. Both LDL-C and HDL-C levels improved significantly at follow-up appointments compared with levels at admission.

Not only does high cholesterol prolong symptoms from other illnesses other than COVID, it may actually increase your risk of prolonging COVID. Research in 2022.

The study involved people with a wide range of COVID-19 severity, from asymptomatic to long-term COVID-19 carriers. It also included people who tested negative for COVID-19 but had prolonged COVID-19-like symptoms.

Researchers looked at various blood biomarkers. Unhealthy lipid levels, including cholesterol, were associated with longer duration of symptoms in people who tested positive for COVID-19 and those with other similar illnesses.

A COVID-19 vaccine would be an excellent tool to prevent serious illness and death from COVID-19. However, given the information on COVID-19 and cholesterol, you may be wondering if the COVID-19 vaccine could affect cholesterol levels as well.

I currently have one 2021 case reports Changes in lipid levels after vaccination. Among them, a person experienced high triglyceride levels after receiving a second dose of the Pfizer-Biontech vaccine.

The problem, however, is that this individual has an inherited condition called familial hypercholesterolemia, which results in greatly elevated levels of LDL-C.

There is currently no evidence that the COVID-19 vaccine affects cholesterol levels in the general population.

COVID-19 can lead to lower cholesterol levels. The extent of this decline is related to disease severity. Most people’s cholesterol levels rise again after recovery.

High cholesterol puts you at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19 and may prolong COVID-19. So, consider taking steps to prevent illness, such as staying up-to-date on the COVID-19 vaccine.

High cholesterol increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, which can lead to serious consequences such as heart attack and stroke. If you have high cholesterol, work with your doctor to manage it.