When Covid-19 initially emerged, most of the world's attention was on its up-front effects- respiratory distress, loss of taste and smell, and the sheer tidal wave of hospitalization. But almost five years into the pandemic, researchers are discovering a much more subtle effect-Covid could be advancing the aging of the cardiovascular system, raising the risk of heart attack and stroke in the background even after patients recover.A fresh global study in the European Heart Journal indicates that catching Covid may speed up blood vessel ageing by up to five years. Vascular stiffening was strongest in women, with new concerns over sex-based risks and long-term health outcomes of the virus.Dangerous Hidden Side Effect of Covid InfectionThe research, known as the CARTESIAN study, evaluated nearly 2,400 participants from 16 countries between 2020 and 2022. Participants were divided into four groups: those who had never contracted Covid, those who had Covid but were never hospitalized, those hospitalized on a general ward, and those who required intensive care.To measure the health of their arteries, scientists used a tool that assesses carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV)—a measure of how fast blood pressure waves travel through the body. The faster the wave moves, the stiffer and “older” the arteries are considered to be. PWV is a reliable predictor of cardiovascular health and future risk of events like stroke or heart attack.Measurements were taken six months after infection and repeated at the 12-month mark. Across all groups, researchers observed that patients who had been infected with Covid showed stiffer arteries than those who never contracted the virus.Why Women Are At Higher Risk?The study’s most striking finding was how differently Covid affected men and women. Women with even mild Covid showed an average PWV increase of 0.55 meters per second.Hospitalized women recorded an increase of 0.60. Women who had been admitted to the ICU saw a surge of 1.09.These increases are not just academic. An acceleration of 0.5 meters per second is considered clinically significant, equating to about five years of vascular ageing. For a 60-year-old woman, that change translates into a three percent higher risk of cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and strokes.Men, by contrast, did not exhibit statistically significant vascular changes. Lead author Professor Rosa Maria Bruno of Université Paris Cité explained the likely reason, “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.”In other words, the very strength of the female immune system may paradoxically expose women to greater long-term risks after Covid.Protective Role of VaccinationThe study also highlighted another crucial factor: vaccination.Vaccinated women showed less stiffening in their arteries compared with their unvaccinated counterparts, and their vascular symptoms stabilized over time. While men didn’t show the same measurable benefit in PWV reduction, vaccination still appears to offer indirect protection by preventing severe disease and hospitalizations, which were correlated with worse outcomes.This aligns with earlier evidence suggesting that vaccines not only reduce the risk of contracting Covid but may also blunt some of the lingering cardiovascular effects of the virus.Why Blood Vessels Age Due To Covid Infection?Covid is often thought of as a respiratory illness, but the virus has long been known to attack blood vessels directly. The culprit lies in ACE2 receptors, which line the inside of blood vessels and serve as gateways for the virus to enter cells. Once inside, Covid can trigger inflammation and damage to vascular tissue.Over time, this damage results in stiffer arteries—an early warning sign of cardiovascular disease. Unlike symptoms such as cough or fever, vascular ageing can occur silently, without obvious warning until it manifests as a serious cardiac event.The vascular ageing discovery adds to a growing list of long-term complications associated with Covid, from brain fog and chronic fatigue to lung scarring and diabetes risk. What makes this new finding particularly concerning is its potential scale.Cardiovascular disease is already the leading cause of death worldwide. If Covid is accelerating vascular ageing across millions of people—especially women—the global burden of heart attack and stroke could rise significantly in the years ahead.Professor Bruno underscored this urgency:“If that is happening, we need to identify who is at risk at an early stage to prevent heart attacks and strokes.”Why Is There A Gender Divide in Covid Outcomes?Throughout the pandemic, gender differences in Covid outcomes have puzzled researchers. Men were more likely to die from acute Covid infection, yet women appear to face greater long-term risks from conditions like long Covid and, now, vascular ageing.This paradox may reflect differences in immune system behavior. Women’s stronger immune responses provide better initial protection but may lead to more sustained inflammation—a double-edged sword that continues damaging the body even after the infection clears.What Can Women Do To Stay safe?While the research continues to evolve, several practical takeaways emerge from this study:Stay up to date on vaccination: Protection against severe Covid seems to reduce the risk of long-term vascular consequences, especially for women.Prioritize cardiovascular screening: People who have had Covid—particularly those with persistent symptoms—may benefit from blood pressure checks, vascular assessments, and cardiac monitoring.Adopt heart-healthy habits: Exercise, balanced nutrition, and avoiding smoking remain powerful tools to offset vascular ageing.Pay attention to symptoms: Shortness of breath, chest pain, or unexplained fatigue after Covid should be evaluated promptly by a healthcare professional.Just last month, a new Covid variant, the Stratus strain, emerged in the UK, accounting for nearly one-third of cases. With its ability to partially evade immunity and cause unusual symptoms such as hoarseness, the variant is a reminder that Covid continues to evolve.If each wave of infection carries hidden long-term risks like vascular ageing, the urgency of global vaccination campaigns and ongoing surveillance becomes even clearer.