Archive · 18 Aug 2025
Study: COVID-19 Can Accelerate Blood Vessel Aging
A new study suggests that getting COVID-19 might make your blood vessels age faster, especially in women.
This could be like adding about five years to their age, making it easier to get heart problems.
The study looked at nearly 2,400 people from different countries and found that those who had COVID had stiffer arteries.
Women seemed to be affected more than men, especially those who had long COVID symptoms like fatigue.
Researchers believe that the way women's immune systems work could be part of the reason.
Also, people who had been vaccinated seemed to have healthier arteries.
COVID-19 infection can accelerate blood vessel aging by around five years.
The study involved 2,390 participants from 16 countries.
Stiffer arteries were found in all COVID-infected patient groups, even those with mild cases.
Women experienced a greater effect than men, and those with long COVID showed a stronger impact.
Vaccinated individuals generally had less stiff arteries compared to unvaccinated ones.
- Who
- The study involved 2,390 participants; women were more affected than men.
- What
- COVID-19 infection can accelerate blood vessel aging, leading to increased risk of heart disease.
- When
- The study recruited participants between September 2020 and February 2022.
- Where
- The study included participants from 16 countries, including Austria, Australia, Brazil, and the US.
- Why
- COVID-19 can directly affect blood vessels, leading to early vascular aging and increasing the risk of heart disease, with differences in the immune response potentially playing a role.
- Study Participants
- 2,390
- Countries Involved
- 16
- Primary Finding
- COVID-19 accelerates blood vessel aging
- Impact on Women
- Greater than on men
- Vaccination Effect
- Vaccinated individuals showed less stiff arteries
