Covid could have accelerated arterial ageing by up to five years, with women experiencing the greatest impact, according to groundbreaking research. The study revealed that even mild Covid infections can stiffen blood vessels, a change normally linked to aging, which increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular issues. Encouragingly, vaccinated individuals generally showed less arterial stiffness compared to those who were unvaccinated. Study leader Professor Rosa Maria Bruno explained that many people affected by Covid continue to experience symptoms months or even years later, and researchers are “still uncovering how the virus triggers these lingering effects.” The findings follow advice from an emergency doctor who recently highlighted a simple five-second test that could indicate heart problems.Early Vascular Ageing ExplainedProfessor Bruno said: “We know Covid can directly impact blood vessels. This can lead to what we term early vascular aging, meaning your arteries are older than your actual age, increasing susceptibility to heart disease. Identifying at-risk individuals early is crucial to preventing heart attacks and strokes.”How the Study Was ConductedThe research included 2,390 participants from 16 countries, including the UK and the US. Conducted from September 2020 to February 2022, participants were divided into four groups: those who never contracted Covid, those with recent mild infections who were not hospitalised, patients admitted to general wards, and the most severe cases treated in intensive care.Stiffer Arteries Found Across All Covid GroupsThe results were striking as all Covid-infected groups, including those with mild infections, showed stiffer arteries than people who had never been infected. Women were more affected than men, and individuals with long Covid symptoms like fatigue and shortness of breath showed the strongest vascular changes. Reassuringly, vaccinated participants had less stiff arteries than unvaccinated ones, and over time, the Covid-related vascular ageing tended to stabilise or slightly improve.How Arterial Stiffness Was MeasuredResearchers determined vascular age by measuring how fast a blood pulse travels from the carotid artery in the neck to the femoral arteries in the legs, using a device to calculate carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV). A higher PWV indicates stiffer blood vessels and a higher vascular age. Measurements were taken six months after infection and repeated at 12 months. The analysis accounted for participants’ sex, age, and other cardiovascular risk factors.The study found that PWV increased in women by 0.55 metres per second for mild Covid cases, 0.60 for hospitalised women, and 1.09 for those in intensive care. Researchers note that an increase of 0.5 metres per second is “clinically significant,” roughly equivalent to five years of vascular ageing, and raises the cardiovascular risk by 3 percent in a 60-year-old woman.How Covid Affects Blood VesselsProfessor Bruno from Université Paris-Cité explained: “Covid-19 targets angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptors found on blood vessel linings. By entering these cells, the virus can cause vascular dysfunction and speed up arterial ageing. Our immune and inflammatory responses, which normally protect against infection, may also contribute to this damage.”Covid Could Be Causing Women To Age FasterDiscussing the sex differences, she added: “Women generally mount a faster, stronger immune response, which helps defend against the infection. However, this same response can sometimes increase damage to the blood vessels after the virus has passed.”The study found that Covid’s impact extends far beyond the respiratory system, silently affecting blood vessels and accelerating vascular aging, especially in women. While vaccination appears to offer some protection, awareness and early monitoring of heart health are important.
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