A Covid-19 infection can accelerate the ageing process in blood vessels by approximately five years, particularly affecting women, as indicated by research. As blood vessels age, they can cause arteries to become stiffer, thereby increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases, including stroke and heart attack, as explained by the researchers. “We understand that Covid can have a direct impact on blood vessels. We believe this may lead to what we refer to as early vascular ageing, which means that your blood vessels may be older than your chronological age, making you more vulnerable to heart disease,” stated Professor Rosa Maria Bruno from Université Paris Cité, France. “If this is occurring, it is essential to identify individuals at risk at an early stage to prevent heart attacks and strokes,” Bruno added. The study, published in the European Heart Journal, involved 2,390 participants from 16 different countries (Austria, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Mexico, Norway, Turkey, the UK, and the US) who were recruited between September 2020 and February 2022. The findings revealed that all three groups of patients who had contracted Covid, including those with mild cases, exhibited stiffer arteries compared to those who had not been infected.
The impact was more pronounced in women than in men and in individuals who experienced persistent symptoms of long Covid, such as shortness of breath and fatigue. Notably, individuals who had received vaccinations against Covid generally had arteries that were less stiff than those who were unvaccinated. Over the long term, the vascular ageing associated with Covid infection appeared to stabilize or improve slightly. The Professor pointed out that one reason for the disparity between women and men “could be differences in the function of the immune system.” Women tend to mount a quicker and more robust immune response, which can offer protection against infection. However, this same response may also lead to increased damage to blood vessels following the initial infection.
