COVID-19 Linked too Accelerated Arterial Aging, Study Finds
SÃO PAULO – Even mild COVID-19 infection can trigger premature aging of arteries, increasing cardiovascular risk, according to research from the cartesian consortium in Brazil. The study, published in the european Heart Journal, reveals that individuals experience increased arterial stiffness within six months of infection, nonetheless of disease severity.
The research measured the speed of the pulse wave between the carotid and femoral arteries – a slower speed indicates healthier, more elastic arteries. Researchers found that all participants who had been infected wiht COVID-19 exhibited greater artery stiffness compared to those who had not. This suggests an “accelerated aging” of the arteries, potentially hindering efficient blood distribution to vital organs.
“The faster the speed,the stiffer it is indeed and,consequently,the less efficient the distribution of blood to the organs and tissues,” explains Bianca Fernandes,a Fapesp fellow who conducted the analyses with the team at Unesp.
The study also highlighted a significant difference based on biological sex. The impact of COVID-19 on arterial stiffness was more pronounced in women, notably those with persistent symptoms. Those who required intensive care exhibited the greatest degree of arterial aging. No significant difference was observed between infected and uninfected men, potentially linked to higher mortality rates among men with COVID-19.
Notably, participants who had been vaccinated demonstrated less arterial stiffness compared to those unvaccinated.
Researchers emphasize the need for ongoing cardiovascular monitoring for individuals post-COVID-19 and further investigation into targeted strategies to mitigate this premature vascular aging. “it is also necessary to investigate specific strategies to reduce this premature vascular aging,” the study authors state. “Because, although it is already known that healthy habits help preserve the elasticity of the arteries, it is still necessary to investigate protocols aimed at the effects of Covid-19 on the vascular system.”
The full article, Accelerated vascular ageing after Covid-19 infection: the Cartesian study, is available here.
