COVID-19 infection accelerates vascular aging, especially in women

COVID-19 infection appears to accelerate the aging of blood vessels, with the strongest effect seen in women and among those who experience persistent long-COVID symptoms. In a large, multicenter study involving 2,390 adults from 16 countries, researchers measured arterial stiffness six months after infection and again at twelve months, finding that infection was associated with higher vascular age compared with never-infected peers. On average, increases in arterial stiffness were clinically meaningful—roughly equivalent to five years of aging—particularly among women, and the effect persisted into the follow-up period, though it tended to level off over time. Vaccination prior to infection was linked to milder changes.

The study assessed vascular aging using carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, a standard measure where higher values indicate stiffer, older arteries. Participants were categorized by their COVID-19 experience: never infected, mild infection, hospitalization on a general ward, or intensive care unit admission. Across all infected groups, arterial stiffness rose relative to those who had never been infected, with a pronounced sex difference: women showed clear,...