NEW DELHI– Covid-19 infections may speed up the aging of blood vessels by as much as five years, particularly in women, raising the risk of cardiovascular disease, according to new research published in the European Heart Journal.
As arteries age, they tend to stiffen — a change that increases the likelihood of heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular conditions. Researchers say Covid appears to accelerate that process.
“We know that Covid can directly affect blood vessels. We believe that this may result in what we call early vascular ageing, meaning that your blood vessels are older than your chronological age and you are more susceptible to heart disease,” said lead author Professor Rosa Maria Bruno of Université Paris Cité in France. “If that is happening, we need to identify who is at risk at an early stage to prevent heart attacks and strokes.”
The international study examined 2,390 people across 16 countries — including Austria, Brazil, Canada, France, the UK, and the U.S. — between September 2020 and February 2022. Participants who had contracted Covid, even in mild cases, were found to have stiffer arteries than those who had never been infected.
The effect was most pronounced in women and in individuals with long Covid symptoms such as fatigue and shortness of breath.
Researchers also noted differences linked to vaccination: participants who had received Covid vaccines generally had less arterial stiffness compared to unvaccinated peers. Over time, vascular aging appeared to stabilize or improve slightly after infection.
Bruno suggested the gender difference may be linked to immune response. “Women mount a more rapid and robust immune response, which can protect them from infection. However, this same response can also increase damage to blood vessels after the initial infection,” she said.
The findings add to growing evidence that Covid’s effects can linger well beyond initial illness, reinforcing the importance of monitoring cardiovascular health in patients post-infection, particularly women. (Source: IANS)
