COVID-19 Accelerates vascular Aging, โEspecially in โWomen: Landmark Study Reveals Long-Term Risks
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Geneva,โค Switzerland – August 20, 2025 – A groundbreaking international study has revealed that COVID-19 โคinfection considerably accelerates vascular aging, with women exhibiting a disproportionatelyโฃ higher risk.The research, published in the European Heart Journal, underscores the long-term cardiovascular โขconsequences ofโ the pandemic โฃand highlights theโ importance โฃof โฃvaccinationโ and ongoing monitoring for โคsurvivors.
Understanding the Link Between COVID-19 and Vascular Health
Since its emergence in โฃlate 2019, SARS-cov-2, theโ virus โresponsible for COVID-19, โคhas been linked to a wide range of health complications extending far beyond the acute respiratory illness. Mounting evidenceโ suggests aโค strong connection betweenโ COVID-19 and increased cardiovascular risk, including heartโ attacks, strokes, and arrhythmias [[1]]. This newโ study delvesโฃ deeper intoโ the mechanismsโค behind these โrisks, focusing on the impact of the virus on the vascular system.
Vascular aging, โcharacterized โby increased arterialโ stiffness, โis a key indicator โof cardiovascular health and a strong predictor of mortality. Unlike chronological age, vascular age reflects the actual condition of blood vessels and can be influenced by lifestyle factorsโค and underlying โhealthโค conditions.
The CARTESIAN Study: Aโฃ Global Investigation
The CARTESIAN (COVID-19 Accelerated Vascular Ageing Study) involvedโ nearly 2,400 participantsโ from 38 medical centers across 18โ countries. Researchers categorized participants intoโข four groups based on their COVID-19 status: individuals who tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 (control group), those with non-hospitalized infections, those โhospitalized with the virus, andโข those requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Vascular health was assessedโ using carotid-femoral pulse โwave velocity, a standard measure of arterial stiffness.
Key Findingsโฃ at a โขGlance
| Participant Group | Arterial stiffness Compared to Controls |
|---|---|
| Non-Hospitalized COVID-19 | +0.55-0.60 m/s (Women) |
| Hospitalized COVID-19 | +0.55-0.60 m/s (Women) |
| ICU-Admitted COVID-19 | +1.09 โคm/s (Women) |
| Men (All infection Levels) | No Significant Difference |
The study revealed that all โขparticipants with confirmed COVID-19 infection exhibited significantly higher arterial stiffness compared โto those who remained uninfected. Notably, the effect was far more pronounced in women. Women with confirmed infections showed aโ significant increase in arterial stiffness, regardless of the severity of their illness.No statistically significant difference in arterial stiffness was observed โbetween infected and uninfected men.
Did You โฃKnow? Women โappear to experience a greater impact โฃon vascular health from โCOVID-19 than men, possibly due toโ differencesโค in immune response and hormonal factors.
Further analysis showed that persistent COVID-19 symptoms were associated with even greater arterial stiffnessโค inโฃ women,โข suggesting that long-COVID may exacerbate vascular damage.โข However, follow-up measurements โtaken approximately 12 months after โthe initial โassessment indicated that arterial stiffness โฃpartially improvedโข over time in infectedโ participants, โwhile it continued to increase โin the control โgroup.
Implications and Future Research
Theseโ findings have significant โฃimplications for the long-term cardiovascular health of โคCOVID-19 โsurvivors. Theโฃ study suggests that COVID-19โ can accelerate vascular aging even in individuals who experienced mild infections. The observed gender disparity highlights the need for targeted preventionโ and monitoringโ strategies for women.
Researchers โalso found that vaccination was associatedโค with lower arterial stiffness in women,particularly those who had been hospitalized with COVID-19. This reinforces the importance โฃof vaccination โขas a โprotectiveโข measure against long-term โcardiovascular complications.
Proโ Tip: Ifโ you have recovered fromโ COVID-19, discuss your cardiovascular โrisk factors with your healthcare provider and consider regular vascular health screenings.
The study authors emphasize theโ need for further researchโข to determine whether these preclinical โคchangesโ in vascularโข health translate into increased clinical cardiovascular events. They also plan to investigate the impact of emerging โคSARS-CoV-2 variants and reinfections โฃon vascular aging.
What steps can healthcare systems takeโข to proactively address the long-term cardiovascular risks associatedโ with COVID-19?
Could targeted interventions, such as lifestyle modifications or pharmacological treatments, help mitigate the accelerated vascular aging observed in โฃCOVID-19 survivors?
The long-term effects of COVID-19 continue to unfold, with cardiovascular complications emerging as a significant concern. Ongoing research is crucial to understanding โฃthe fullโฃ scope of theseโค effects โขand developing effective strategies for prevention and treatment. โโข The โขCARTESIAN study provides โคvaluable insights into โthe mechanisms underlying COVID-19-related vascular damage and โunderscoresโ the importance of proactive cardiovascular care โขfor survivors.
Frequently Asked Questions About COVID-19 and Vascular Health
- What is vascular aging? Vascular aging refers to the stiffeningโ of arteries, which increases theโ risk of cardiovascular โdisease.
- Isโค COVID-19 a risk โfactor for vascular aging? โ Yes, the CARTESIAN studyโ demonstrates that COVID-19 infection accelerates vascular aging, particularly in women.
- Can vaccinationโ protectโ against COVID-19-related vascular damage? The study โsuggests thatโค vaccinationโข is associated with lower arterial stiffness in women.
- What are the โฃsymptoms of vascular aging? Vascular aging frequently enough has no noticeable symptoms, making โregular checkups crucial.
- How โคis arterial stiffness measured? Arterial stiffness is commonly measured using carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity.
Disclaimer: This article provides general information and should not be considered medical advice. Please โconsult with a qualified healthcare professional for personalized โguidance.
We hope this โขarticleโ has provided valuable insights into the long-term cardiovascular โeffects of COVID-19. Please share this information with your friends and family, and join the โขconversation in the comments below. โค โDon’t forget to subscribe to ourโ newsletterโ for the latestโข updates on health and wellness!