COVID-19 & Blood Vessel Aging in Women: New Study Reveals Link
COVID-19 May Accelerate Vascular Aging, Especially in Women
By Dr. Jennifer Chen, Pulitzer-winning chief Editor
New research published in teh European Heart Journal on August 18, 2025, suggests that COVID-19 infection can accelerate vascular aging by as much as five years, particularly in women. This finding highlights the long-term cardiovascular risks associated with even mild COVID-19 cases and underscores the importance of vaccination and early intervention.
Blood vessels naturally become more rigid with age, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease, including stroke and heart attack. This study, led by professor Rosa Maria Bruno of Paris Cité university, indicates that COVID-19 can speed up this process.
“From the pandemic, we have learned that many people who have had COVID-19 end up with symptoms that can last months or even years. Though,we are always learning what’s going on in the body to create these symptoms,” explains Professor Bruno. “We certainly know that COVID-19 can directly affect blood vessels. We believe that this can lead to what we call early vascular aging,which means that your blood vessels are older than your chronological age and that you are more sensitive to heart disease. If this happens, we must identify who is at risk at an early stage to prevent heart attacks and strokes.”
The comprehensive study involved 2,390 individuals from 16 countries – Austria, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Mexico, Norway, Turkey, and the United States. Researchers assessed vascular age using a device that measures the speed of a pulse wave traveling between the carotid artery (in the neck) and the femoral arteries (in the legs), a metric known as Carotid-Femoral Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV). A higher PWV indicates greater arterial stiffness and, consequently, a higher vascular age. Measurements were taken six and twelve months post-infection.
After accounting for factors like age, gender, and other cardiovascular risk factors, the study revealed that individuals who had been infected with COVID-19, even those with mild cases, exhibited more rigid arteries compared to those who remained uninfected.This effect was more pronounced in women and those experiencing long COVID symptoms like shortness of breath and fatigue.
Specifically,the average increase in PWV was 0.55 meters per second in women with mild COVID-19, 0.60 m/s in those hospitalized, and 1.09 m/s in those requiring intensive care. Researchers note that an increase of 0.5 m/s is clinically important, equating to approximately five years of vascular aging.
importantly, the study found that individuals who were vaccinated against COVID-19 experienced less arterial stiffness.
“These findings suggest that vaccination may offer some protection against the vascular consequences of COVID-19,” Professor Bruno notes.
The research highlights the need for ongoing monitoring of cardiovascular health in individuals post-COVID-19 infection. Further investigation is needed to fully understand the underlying mechanisms driving this accelerated aging process and to develop targeted interventions to mitigate the long-term cardiovascular risks.
This study underscores the lasting impact of COVID-19 and the importance of preventative measures, including vaccination, to protect cardiovascular health.