How Covid Accelerates Artery Ageing and Heart Risk
Summary: COVID can speed up vascular ageing by as much as five years, even in mild cases. This increases the risk of heart problems and strokes, particularly in women. Vaccination provides protection.
Can Mild Covid Make Your Blood Vessels 5 Years Older?
New research shows an alarming fact: even a mild Covid infection can age your blood vessels by five years. Published in the European Heart Journal on August 18, 2025, the study emphasises how COVID speeds up vascular ageing. This raises the risk of heart attacks and strokes, particularly in women.
COVID-19 and Arterial Stiffness: What the Study Found
Blood vessels get stiffer as people age. However, researchers found that COVID-19 accelerates this change. Stiffer arteries increase the risk of heart disease.
Professor Rosa Maria Bruno from Université Paris Cité, France, explains:
“Since the pandemic, we have learned that many people who had Covid live with symptoms for months or years. We now know that Covid can directly affect blood vessels, leading to what we call early vascular ageing.”
This means your vascular age can exceed your actual age, increasing heart disease risk.
Study Details: Who Was Affected Most?
The study analysed 2,390 participants from 16 countries, grouped by Covid history:
- Never infected
- Recently infected (not hospitalised)
- Hospitalised (general ward)
- Hospitalised (ICU)
Researchers measured carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV), a key indicator of arterial stiffness, at 6 and 12 months post-infection.
Key findings:
- All Covid-positive groups had stiffer arteries than uninfected individuals.
- Women experienced the greatest impact.
Long Covid symptoms like fatigue and breathlessness worsened stiffness.
How Much Did Arteries Age After Covid?
In women:
- Mild Covid: PWV +0.55 m/s
- Hospitalised: PWV +0.60 m/s
- ICU patients: PWV +1.09 m/s
An increase of 0.5 m/s equals five years of vascular ageing, raising heart disease risk by 3% in a 60-year-old woman.
Does Vaccination Help?
Yes. Vaccinated individuals showed less arterial stiffness compared to the unvaccinated. Over time, this effect settled or improved slightly, but early damage was evident.
Why Does Covid Accelerate Vascular Ageing?
Professor Bruno explains:
“Covid acts on ACE2 receptors on blood vessels. The virus enters cells through these receptors, causing vascular dysfunction and inflammation. The immune system’s response may further damage blood vessels.”
Women’s stronger immune response helps fight infection but may increase vascular injury post-infection.
What Can You Do to Protect Your Heart?
The good news: vascular aging is measurable and treatable. Steps include:
- Healthy lifestyle changes (diet, exercise)
- Managing blood pressure and cholesterol
- Regular cardiovascular check-ups
Expert Opinion
Dr. Behnood Bikdeli from Harvard Medical School says:
“Although the acute threat of Covid-19 has passed, post-acute Covid syndrome affects up to 40% of survivors. The CARTESIAN study shows that Covid has aged our arteries, especially in women. The next challenge is finding ways to reverse this.”
Final Thoughts
Even mild Covid can speed up arterial aging by five years. This raises the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Vaccination and early heart care are still important.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Can mild Covid affect your heart health?
Yes. Even mild Covid can stiffen arteries, aging them by up to five years and increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Q2: Does vaccination prevent vascular ageing from Covid?
Vaccination reduces the degree of arterial stiffness caused by Covid, lowering long-term cardiovascular risk.
Q3: Why are women more affected by Covid-related vascular aging?
Women’s stronger immune response, while protective, may cause more post-infection vascular damage, leading to higher arterial stiffness.
Q4: How can you reduce Covid-related heart risks?
Adopt a heart-healthy lifestyle, monitor blood pressure and cholesterol, and consult your doctor for vascular health checks.
Reference: Bruno RM, Badhwar S, Abid L, Agharazii M, Anastasio F, Bellien J, et al. Accelerated vascular ageing after COVID-19 infection: the CARTESIAN study. Eur Heart J. 2025;ehaf430. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehaf430.
Dane
I am an MBBS graduate and a dedicated medical writer with a strong passion for deep research and psychology. I enjoy breaking down complex medical topics into engaging, easy-to-understand content, aiming to educate and inspire readers by exploring the fascinating connection between health, science, and the human mind.
