COVID-19 Linked to Accelerated Arterial Aging,study Finds
OXFORD,ENGLAND – New research published August 17,2025,in the European Heart Journal suggests that COVID-19 infection may accelerate vascular aging by as much as five years,tho some of the damage appears partially reversible. The findings, stemming from extensive analysis led by a collaborative international team of researchers, raise concerns about the long-term cardiovascular health consequences of the pandemic.
The study, involving a comprehensive list of 118 researchers including Hettab, Junior Justin, Diego Moriconi, saverio Fabbri, Jean Sebastien Hulot, Antoine Fayol, Marie Courbebaisse, Beatrice Parfait, David Lebeaux, Gérard Friedlander, Jeremy Bellien, Robinson Joannides, Michele Iacob, Anne-marie Leroi, Athanase Benetos, Ioannis Georgiopoulos, Dimitrios Terentes-Printzios, Georgia Christopoulou, Konstantinos Tsioufis, Vasiliki Gardikioti, Charalambos Vlachopoulos, Ignatios Ikonomidis, Vaia Lambadiari, Alkaternini Kountouri, Konstantinos Katogiannis, Ana Jerončić, Mario Podrug, Mirela Pavičić-Ivelja, Pjero Koren, Maria Lorenza Muiesan, Anna Paini, Massimo Salvetti, marco Cacciatore, Giacomo Pucci, Fabio Anastasio, Elisa Scarnecchia, Cristina Giannattasio, Maloberti Alessandro, Michela algeri, Antonella Moreo, Chiara Tognola, Andrea Grillo, Bruno Fabris, Stella Bernadi, Matteo Rovina, Giuliano Di Pierro, Lorenzo Ghiadoni, Sabina armenia, Elisabetta Bianchini, Luca Zanoli, Pietro Castellino, Arturo Montineri, Alice Sciuto, Davide Grassi, Jolita Badariene, ligita Ryliskyte, Agne Laucyte-Cibulskiene, Ligita Jancoriene, Kristina ryliskiene, Agne Juceviciene, Milda Kovaite, Laura Balkeviciene, Carlos G Ramos-Becerra, Guillermos Alanis-Sánchez, Pedro Martinez-Ayala, ernesto G Cardona-Muñóz, David Cardona-Muller, Mai Tone Lonnebakken, Caroline Annette Berge, Lucimere bohn, José Oliveira, Emilia Alves, Simao Pedro costa, Telmo Pereira, Armando caseiro, Fábio Lira, Maria Rosa Bernal López, María Isabel Ruiz Moreno, Ricardo Gómez Huelgas, Almudena Lopez sampalo, Jaime Sanz Canovas, Victor Antonio vargas Cancela, Lidia Cobos Palacios, Juan José Mancebo Sevilla, Arzu nazlı Zeka, Ebru Özpelit, Canet İncir, Mustafa M Barış, Yeşim Tunçok, Ali Canturk, Hasan Can Cimilli, Leila Abid, salem Abdessalem, Selma Charfeddine, Amine Bahloul, Rania Hammami, mahdi Walha, Alun Hughes, Chloe Park, Alexandra Jamieson, Philip J Chowienczyk, Luca Faconti, bushra Farukh, Riaz Akhtar, Alena shantsila, Gregory Lip, Alvaro N Gurovich, Manuel Gomez, Lee Stoner, Michelle Meyer, Erik hanson, Gabriel Zieff, Patricia Pagan Lassalle and Lauren Bates, indicates that COVID-19’s impact extends beyond acute respiratory illness, perhaps contributing to a surge in cardiovascular disease in the years to come. Vascular aging is a key driver of conditions like heart attack, stroke, and dementia, and accelerating this process even modestly could have notable public health ramifications.
The research team investigated the effects of COVID-19 on vascular function and structure, finding evidence of increased arterial stiffness and endothelial dysfunction – hallmarks of aging – in individuals following infection. A separate study published concurrently by Syed Bukhari, Marie D Gerhard-Herman and Behnood Bikdeli further explores the mechanisms behind this “accelerated yet partially reversible clock,” suggesting that inflammation and immune dysregulation triggered by the virus play a crucial role. While the observed vascular changes were substantial, the research also offers a glimmer of hope, indicating that some degree of recovery is possible after the acute phase of infection subsides.
The findings underscore the importance of continued cardiovascular monitoring for individuals who have contracted COVID-19, even after recovery. Further
