This study investigates the long-term cardiovascular outcomes of individuals who survived the acute phase of COVID-19. Using national healthcare databases from the US Department of Veterans Affairs, the researchers built a cohort of 153,760 individuals with COVID-19 and compared them with two control groups: a contemporary cohort of 5,637,647 individuals and a historical cohort of 5,859,411 individuals. The study found that, beyond the first 30 days after infection, individuals with COVID-19 had an increased risk of various cardiovascular diseases, including cerebrovascular disorders, dysrhythmias, ischemic and non-ischemic heart disease, pericarditis, myocarditis, heart failure, and thromboembolic disease. These risks were evident even among those who were not hospitalized during the acute phase and increased according to the severity of the acute infection. The findings suggest that care pathways for survivors of acute COVID-19 should include attention to cardiovascular health and disease. The study also highlights the need for continued optimization of strategies to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infections and the potential impact of the pandemic on the burden of cardiovascular diseases globally.This study investigates the long-term cardiovascular outcomes of individuals who survived the acute phase of COVID-19. Using national healthcare databases from the US Department of Veterans Affairs, the researchers built a cohort of 153,760 individuals with COVID-19 and compared them with two control groups: a contemporary cohort of 5,637,647 individuals and a historical cohort of 5,859,411 individuals. The study found that, beyond the first 30 days after infection, individuals with COVID-19 had an increased risk of various cardiovascular diseases, including cerebrovascular disorders, dysrhythmias, ischemic and non-ischemic heart disease, pericarditis, myocarditis, heart failure, and thromboembolic disease. These risks were evident even among those who were not hospitalized during the acute phase and increased according to the severity of the acute infection. The findings suggest that care pathways for survivors of acute COVID-19 should include attention to cardiovascular health and disease. The study also highlights the need for continued optimization of strategies to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infections and the potential impact of the pandemic on the burden of cardiovascular diseases globally.