Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Aug 18: Covid-19 infection may accelerate the ageing of blood vessels by up to five years, significantly increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke — with women being more affected than men, according to a new international study.

Published in the European Heart Journal, the research found that even mild cases of Covid-19 can lead to increased arterial stiffness, a key sign of early vascular ageing. Stiffer arteries are associated with higher chances of cardiovascular complications such as heart attacks and strokes.

“We know that Covid can directly affect blood vessels,” said Professor Rosa Maria Bruno of Université Paris Cité, France. “This may result in early vascular ageing — meaning your blood vessels are biologically older than your actual age. If this is happening, it’s critical to identify high-risk individuals early to prevent future cardiac events.”

The study involved 2,390 participants from 16 countries, including France, the US, Brazil, Italy, and India, and was conducted between September 2020 and February 2022. The participants included both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals, and people who had experienced varying degrees of Covid-19 — from mild illness to long Covid symptoms.

Researchers found that all groups who had been infected, regardless of severity, showed higher arterial stiffness compared to those who had never had Covid. The effect was particularly evident in women and in individuals experiencing long Covid symptoms like fatigue and shortness of breath.

Vaccinated individuals had less arterial stiffness compared to unvaccinated participants, suggesting a potential protective role of Covid vaccines in preventing vascular damage. Over time, the arterial stiffness in many patients appeared to stabilise or show slight improvement.

Professor Bruno pointed out that the greater impact on women could be due to differences in immune system function. “Women mount a more rapid and robust immune response, which can protect them from infection. However, this same response can also increase damage to blood vessels after the initial infection,” she said.

The findings add to the growing understanding of Covid-19’s long-term health impacts and highlight the importance of monitoring cardiovascular health in individuals recovering from the virus — even those who initially experienced only mild symptoms.