Scientists: COVID-19 accelerates vascular aging by five years
A study published in the prestigious journal European Heart Journal showed that COVID-19 can accelerate vascular aging by an average of five years, with the effect being particularly pronounced in women. The project involved 2,390 participants from 16 countries, including Cyprus.
The work was part of the international multicenter CARTESIAN study, led by Professor Rosa Maria Bruno from Université Paris Cité. Participants had their pulse wave velocity (PWV) measured — an indicator of arterial stiffness used to assess so-called "vascular age." An increase in PWV indicates accelerated vascular aging and a higher risk of cardiovascular disease.
The results showed that even after a mild case of COVID-19, women experienced significant vascular deterioration. On average, PWV increased by 0.55 m/s, equivalent to about five years of vascular aging. In patients who required hospitalization, the increase reached +0.60 m/s, and in intensive care patients, +1.09 m/s. For men, the changes were less pronounced, highlighting a sex-specific impact of the infection.
Researchers emphasize that this effect persisted even long after recovery. This means that COVID-19 may trigger long-term processes that reduce arterial elasticity and increase the likelihood of cardiovascular complications.
Special attention is being given to the need for further monitoring and preventive measures to reduce the risk of vascular aging in those who have recovered. According to experts, these findings are of great importance for public health, as they show that the consequences of the pandemic extend far beyond the acute infection.
Cyprus, as one of the participant countries, contributed to data collection and analysis. This highlights the active involvement of Cypriot doctors and research institutions in international projects aimed at studying the long-term effects of COVID-19 and protecting public health.
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