COVID-19 Linked to Accelerated Vascular and Cardiac Aging, especially in Women: Study

A total of 2390 people were enlisted. All COVID-19-positive groups had increased PWV (+0.41, +0.37, and +0.40 m/s for groups 2–4, P <.001, P =.001, and P =.003) when compared to controls after controlling for covariates [PWV 7.53 (7.09; 7.97) m/s adjusted mean (95% CI)]. PWV differences were significant for women but not for men in sex-stratified analyses [PWV +0.55, +0.60, and +1.09 m/s for groups 2–4, P <.001 for all)].

Regardless of the severity of the disease or cardiovascular variables, persistent symptoms were linked to increased PWV among women with COVID-19 [adjusted PWV 7.52 (95% CI 7.09; 7.96) vs. 7.13 (95% CI 6.67; 7.59) m/s, P <.001]. After a year, the COVID+ groups showed a steady or better PWV, while the COVID− group showed a progression.

Overall, evidence suggests that COVID-19 infection, particularly in women, is linked to both short-term and long-term accelerated vascular aging. Additional research is required to validate these results and to show whether these preclinical changes are linked to clinical CV events, determine whether more recent SARS-CoV-2 variants can cause accelerated vascular aging to the same degree, and determine whether reinfections are linked to worse arterial stiffness.

Reference:

Bruno, R. M., Badhwar, S., Abid, L., Agharazii, M., Anastasio, F., Bellien, J., Burghuber, O., Faconti, L., Filipovsky, J., Ghiadoni, L., Giannattasio, C., Hametner, B., Hughes, A. D., Jeroncic, A., Ikonomidis, I., Lonnebakken, M. T., Maloberti, A., Mayer, C. C., Muiesan, M. L., … CARTESIAN Investigators. (2025). Accelerated vascular ageing after COVID-19 infection: the CARTESIAN study. European Heart Journal. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehaf430