Recent research published in the European Heart Journal indicates that Covid-19 infections, particularly in women, may accelerate vascular aging by approximately five years. This study, led by Professor Rosa Maria Bruno from Université Paris Cité, included 2,390 participants from 16 countries and sought to examine how Covid-19 impacts blood vessel stiffness, a key factor linked to cardiovascular disease risk.
The researchers measured arterial stiffness using carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV), which assesses how quickly blood pressure waves travel between the carotid and femoral arteries. Their findings revealed that individuals who had experienced Covid-19, regardless of severity, had stiffer arteries compared to those who had not been infected. This effect was particularly pronounced in women, with significant increases in PWV noted across different groups—0.55 meters per second for those with mild Covid, 0.60 for hospitalized patients, and 1.09 for those treated in intensive care.
The study highlights that vascular aging may leave individuals more susceptible to heart disease, with a notable increase in risk for women. Vaccinated individuals generally exhibited less arterial stiffness than their unvaccinated counterparts. The research also points to potential underlying mechanisms, including the virus's interaction with specific receptors in blood vessels and the role of the immune response in exacerbating vascular damage post-infection.
Looking ahead, Professor Bruno and her team plan to continue monitoring participants to determine the long-term implications of accelerated vascular aging and its correlation with future cardiovascular events. The study underscores the necessity for ongoing research into the long-term effects of Covid-19 on cardiovascular health, particularly as post-acute Covid-19 syndrome becomes more recognized.