COVID-19, Heart Attacks, and Black Women: Understanding Risks and Disparities

Examining how COVID-19 disproportionately affects Black women’s heart health, the unique risk factors, and what can be done to address these disparities.

By Sneha Tete, Integrated MA, Certified Relationship Coach

Created on Sep 25, 2025

Examining how COVID-19 disproportionately affects Black women’s heart health, the unique risk factors, and what can be done to address these disparities.

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed and intensified existing health disparities across different populations in the United States. One of the most concerning findings is the connection between COVID-19 and heightened risks of heart attacks, particularly among Black women. This article explores why Black women face greater risks, the underlying causes behind these disparities, and what individuals and the healthcare system can do to make a difference.

The Overlapping Crisis: COVID-19 and Heart Disease in Black Women

Even before the pandemic, heart disease was the leading cause of death among Black women. COVID-19 has further complicated this reality, generating new cardiovascular risks and drawing attention to enduring health inequalities.
Statistics show:

Black people have experienced the highest rates of COVID-19 infections and deaths among all racial and ethnic groups in the U.S.
Black women are more likely to develop heart disease at younger ages and often have worse outcomes than their white counterparts.
Societal factors, such as systemic racism, limited healthcare access, and chronic stress, further exacerbate these health challenges.

How COVID-19 Increases Cardiovascular Risk

Research continues to uncover how COVID-19 puts stress on the cardiovascular system. Aside from respiratory symptoms, the virus can:

Directly invade the heart muscle and blood vessels, causing inflammation.
Trigger blood clots, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes.
Exacerbate underlying cardiovascular conditions, including high blood pressure and diabetes.

Large-scale studies have found that individuals who had COVID-19, even if their initial illness was mild, are at increased risk for future heart attacks and strokes—a risk that may persist for several years. Hospitalization due to COVID-19 can quadruple this risk, and the risk is further magnified in people with preexisting cardiac conditions.

Unique Burdens Facing Black Women

Several factors put Black women at exceptional risk when it comes to COVID-19-related heart disease:

Higher Prevalence of Risk Factors: Black women have among the highest rates of obesity and hypertension in the United States, both of which are key contributors to heart disease.
Greater Exposure to COVID-19: Black women are more likely to serve as essential workers or caregivers, putting them at increased risk of exposure to the virus.
Chronic Stress: Systemic racism, economic instability, and family caregiving responsibilities all contribute to a high burden of chronic stress, which is known to negatively impact heart health.
Barriers to Quality Healthcare: Historic and ongoing medical bias, lack of insurance, and mistrust in the healthcare system contribute to delayed care and worse outcomes for many Black women.

Why Are These Risks So High?

The roots of these disparities are complex and entrenched in both biological and social determinants of health.

Biological Risk Factors

Obesity and Overweight: Four out of five Black women are considered overweight or have obesity, the highest rate in any U.S. demographic group.
High Blood Pressure: Black women are 60% more likely to have hypertension compared to white women.
Type 2 Diabetes: Higher prevalence of diabetes further compounds cardiovascular risk.
Increased Genetic Susceptibility: Some evidence suggests that certain genetic traits, like non-O blood types, may make some people more vulnerable to COVID-19-related heart complications.

Social Determinants and Chronic Stress

Economic Inequality: Disparities in education, income, and employment limit access to healthy food, safe neighborhoods, and quality healthcare.
Occupational Exposure: Many Black women are essential workers in healthcare, food service, and other industries, leading to higher risk of COVID-19 exposure.
Housing Instability: Crowded or unstable living environments make social distancing and disease management more difficult.
Systemic Racism: Experiences of racial discrimination are linked to higher stress hormone levels, which increase risk for hypertension and heart disease.
Caregiving Roles: Black women are often primary caregivers for extended families, increasing both exposure to illness and emotional strain.

How COVID-19 Worsens Heart Health for Black Women

COVID-19 brings immediate and long-term risks to heart health, especially in populations already facing high levels of chronic disease. Recent research indicates:

Heightened risk of heart attack and stroke for years after infection, regardless of initial severity.
Hospitalized patients without prior heart disease are seven times more likely to experience cardiovascular events post-infection, and those with existing heart disease are at even higher risk.
Virus-induced inflammation and plaque instability in arteries can trigger long-lasting cardiovascular issues.
Blood type may play a role: Those with non-O blood types (A, B, AB) appear to have higher post-COVID heart risks.

The Emotional and Economic Toll

The intersection of the pandemic, structural inequities, and existing health challenges means that Black women endure a disproportionate emotional and economic strain. Key factors include:

Job loss and income instability during the pandemic, raising anxiety and limiting resources for healthy living.
Childcare and eldercare burdens, with many women caring for multiple generations in one household.
Increased exposure to loss and trauma due to higher COVID-19 mortality rates in their communities.

Data Gaps and Underrepresentation

One major challenge is the lack of demographic data in many COVID-19 and cardiovascular studies. This underrepresentation makes it difficult to:

Accurately assess the impact of COVID-19 on Black women’s health outcomes.
Develop and implement targeted interventions for high-risk populations.
Advocate for policy changes and resource allocation where they are needed most.

Recognizing this issue, recent efforts such as the American Heart Association’s COVID-19 CVD Registry are working to enroll more diverse participants so that research findings truly reflect America’s population.

Expert Insights: Voices from the Field

Cardiologists and public health experts agree that the intersection of COVID-19 and cardiovascular disease among Black women is a crisis demanding urgent attention:

Dr. Michelle Albert (UCSF): Black women are often at the intersection of the worst economic and health disparities, and their experiences have often been overlooked in medical research.
Dr. LaPrincess Brewer (Mayo Clinic): The stress caused by economic, healthcare, and caregiving burdens during the pandemic has directly impacted Black women’s ability to maintain heart health.
Yvonne Commodore-Mensah (Johns Hopkins): Social determinants—including access to healthy food, safe neighborhoods, and equitable education—must be at the center of any solution targeting these disparities.

Prevention and What Can Be Done

Addressing COVID-19-related heart risks among Black women calls for both individual and systemic changes:

Individual Actions

Heart-Healthy Choices: Maintain a balanced diet, exercise regularly, avoid smoking, and manage stress where possible.
Monitor Blood Pressure: Regularly check your blood pressure and follow prescribed treatments for hypertension.
Stay Informed & Vaccinated: Keep up to date with vaccinations and seek immediate care for any Covid-19 or heart-related symptoms.
Regular Health Screenings: Attend routine check-ups, especially if you have a personal or family history of heart disease, diabetes, or high blood pressure.

Community and Systemic Solutions

Promote Access to Quality Healthcare: Expand community health programs and improve insurance coverage.
Address Food and Housing Insecurity: Increase access to healthy food and safe, affordable housing.
Advocate for Research Inclusion: Support efforts to ensure that research includes adequate representation of Black women.
Tackle Systemic Racism and Bias: Push for policy changes that address the root causes of structural inequity.

Protecting Your Heart During and After the Pandemic

COVID-19’s impact on heart health is intertwined with broader social and economic factors. Black women, in particular, need tailored prevention strategies, timely treatment, and ongoing research informed by their lived experiences. Healthcare providers can help by:

Providing culturally competent care and addressing medical bias.
Screening for social determinants such as food insecurity, housing needs, and trauma.
Educating patients about the lingering cardiovascular risks after COVID-19 infection.
Connecting families to community resources for mental health, nutrition, and wellness support.

Resources for Further Support

American Heart Association: Offers educational materials and regional programs focusing on Black women’s heart health.
Local Community Health Clinics: Provide accessible screenings and preventive care in underserved neighborhoods.
Black Women’s Health Study: Ongoing research aims to better understand and improve the health of Black women in the U.S.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How does COVID-19 increase the risk of heart attack in Black women?

COVID-19 can cause heart inflammation, promote blood clots, and destabilize plaque in arteries—all of which can lead to heart attacks. When combined with pre-existing risks such as hypertension and diabetes, which are more prevalent among Black women, the chances of a cardiovascular event increase.

Are Black women at higher risk of cardiovascular complications after COVID-19?

Yes. Due to a greater burden of risk factors like high blood pressure and diabetes, and structural barriers to care, Black women face a higher chance of long-term heart complications after COVID-19.

Is the increased risk only present during the acute COVID-19 infection?

No. Emerging evidence suggests that the heightened risk for heart attacks and strokes can persist for years after the initial infection, especially if the person was hospitalized with COVID-19.

What preventive steps can Black women take?

Regularly monitor heart health, stay physically active, eat a balanced diet, manage stress, avoid smoking, stay current on vaccinations, and seek regular healthcare screenings—especially if you have had COVID-19 or have existing risk factors.

What is being done to address these disparities?

Research efforts like the American Heart Association’s COVID-19 CVD Registry and studies within the Black Women’s Health Study are underway. Advocacy for more inclusive research, better preventive care, and policy changes to address systemic inequities is ongoing at national and community levels.

Key Takeaways

Black women face a unique convergence of risks from both heart disease and COVID-19.
Societal and economic factors, alongside biological vulnerabilities, contribute to these disparities.
Multilevel interventions—spanning individual choices, medical care, and societal change—are essential for reducing risks.

For more information and support, connect with your healthcare provider or a local community health center.

References

Author

Sneha TeteBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

Sneha is a relationships and lifestyle writer with a strong foundation in applied linguistics and certified training in relationship coaching. She brings over five years of writing experience to thebridalbox, crafting thoughtful, research-driven content that empowers readers to build healthier relationships, boost emotional well-being, and embrace holistic living.

Read full bio of Sneha Tete