A recent study published in the European Heart Journal has found that Covid infections, particularly in women, may lead to blood vessels aging around five years due to accelerated vascular ageing. Researchers assessed 2,390 people from 16 different countries and found that all three groups of patients who had been infected with Covid, including those with mild Covid, had stiffer arteries compared to those who had not been infected.
The study, led by Professor Rosa Maria Bruno from Université Paris Cité, France, measured carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) to assess vascular age and found that women who experienced persistent symptoms of long Covid, such as shortness of breath and fatigue, had the highest increase in PWV. The average increase in PWV was around 0.55 meters per second for women with mild Covid, which is equivalent to aging around five years.
The study suggests that this accelerated vascular ageing may lead to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, including stroke and heart attack. Researchers believe that the Covid-19 virus acts on specific receptors in the body that are present on the lining of blood vessels, leading to vascular dysfunction and accelerated vascular ageing.
Professor Bruno emphasized that vascular ageing is easy to measure and can be addressed with widely available treatments, such as lifestyle changes, blood pressure-lowering, and cholesterol-lowering drugs. The study will continue to follow participants over the coming years to establish whether the accelerated vascular ageing leads to an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes in the future.
The findings of this study highlight the importance of monitoring cardiovascular health in individuals who have had Covid infections, particularly women, and emphasize the need for further research into the causes and consequences of post-acute Covid-19 syndrome.
Source: https://www.news-medical.net/news/20250818/Study-links-COVID-19-infection-to-accelerated-blood-vessel-aging-in-women.aspx