COVID Accelerates Aging of Women's Blood Vessels by Five Years, Research Reveals
In a recent study published in the European Heart Journal, researchers found that COVID-19 infection can accelerate the aging of blood vessels, particularly in women. This vascular aging raises the risk of cardiovascular diseases like heart attacks and strokes.
The mechanism behind this vascular aging involves the SARS-CoV-2 virus targeting angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors on blood vessel linings. This results in vascular dysfunction and inflammation. Women experience more significant vascular aging due to their more rapid and robust immune responses, which protect against acute infection but may increase vessel damage post-infection.
Key findings from the study include:
- Elevated arterial stiffness, measured by pulse wave velocity (PWV), is seen even in women with mild or non-hospitalized COVID-19.
- The vascular aging effect is more pronounced in women, especially those with persistent symptoms (long COVID) and those hospitalized, particularly in intensive care units.
- Vaccination is associated with less arterial stiffness and thus may mitigate accelerated vascular aging.
To address COVID-induced accelerated vascular aging, especially in women, early detection and standard cardiovascular risk reduction therapies are crucial. This includes lifestyle changes such as diet, exercise, and smoking cessation, medications that lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and monitoring vascular health over time, especially in COVID-19 survivors showing persistent symptoms.
Professor Bruno, who led the study, emphasised the importance of doing whatever possible to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes for people with accelerated vascular aging. The study involved 2,390 participants from 16 countries, with an average age of 50 and about half being women.
Researchers used a test called pulse wave velocity (PWV) to measure the stiffness of participants' arteries. The PWV test was conducted 6 months and 12 months after COVID-19 infection. The participants were grouped based on their COVID-19 status: never had COVID, had COVID but not hospitalized, hospitalized, and admitted to intensive care.
The new study, conducted between 2020 and 2022, adds to the growing body of evidence linking COVID-19 to vascular dysfunction and accelerated vascular aging. It is important to note that women were more affected by COVID-19 in terms of arterial stiffness than men. The fact that vascular aging can be measured makes it easier to monitor and address.
The COVID-19 virus acts on specific receptors in the body, called the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptors, to enter and infect cells. The body's inflammation and immune responses, which defend against infections, may be involved in the vascular dysfunction caused by COVID-19. However, the specific treatments for vascular aging were not detailed in the study.
The researchers noted that vaccinated people generally had less stiff arteries than those who weren't vaccinated. In women, the increase in PWV for mild COVID-19 cases was 0.55 meters/second, for hospitalized cases was 0.60, and for ICU cases was 1.09. A 0.5 increase in PWV equals about five years of aging in blood vessels and raises the risk of heart disease by 3 percent in a 60-year-old woman.
In conclusion, the study highlights the need for continued research into the long-term effects of COVID-19, particularly on vascular health. By implementing early detection and standard cardiovascular risk reduction therapies, we can potentially mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on vascular aging and reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
