A recent international study has found that individuals infected with Covid-19 may experience accelerated ageing of their blood vessels, with the effect particularly pronounced in women. The research, published in the European Heart Journal, suggests that the infection can lead to increased stiffness in arteries — a condition linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack and stroke.
The study involved 2,390 participants from 16 countries, including France, the UK, the US, Brazil, and Australia, who were observed between September 2020 and February 2022.
Researchers assessed arterial stiffness across various groups — those who had never been infected, those who had recovered from mild Covid-19, and those with more severe or long-lasting symptoms.
Findings revealed that even individuals with mild Covid infections had stiffer arteries compared to those who had never contracted the virus.
This arterial stiffness, often associated with the natural ageing process, appeared to be accelerated by around five years in those who had been infected. The impact was more significant in women and in people experiencing long Covid symptoms such as fatigue and breathlessness.
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The research points to the possibility of what experts term “early vascular ageing”, where blood vessels begin to behave as though they belong to someone older than the patient’s actual age. This condition increases susceptibility to cardiovascular events.
Vaccination appeared to offer some protection, as individuals who had been vaccinated generally showed less arterial stiffness than those who had not received the vaccine. Over time, some recovery in blood vessel function was observed, indicating that the impact may stabilise or partially reverse.
Researchers believe that immune system differences could explain the stronger effect seen in women. While women often develop faster and more robust immune responses, this same heightened activity may lead to more inflammation and damage in the aftermath of infection.
