TEPAK Study: Covid Ages Blood Vessels

A Covid infection, especially in women, can lead to the aging of blood vessels by approximately five years, according to a study published in the European Heart Journal, with the participation of researchers from TEPAK.

The study, involving 2,390 people from 16 countries, showed that Covid can accelerate the aging process of blood vessels, increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Researchers, including Andri Panagiotou and Galatia Fotiou from TEPAK, assessed the vascular age of participants by measuring carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV). It was found that even mild Covid infections are associated with stiffer arteries.

The increase in PWV was greater in women and in people with persistent symptoms of long-term Covid. People who had been vaccinated against Covid generally had less stiff arteries.

Vascular aging can be treated with lifestyle changes and medication. The TEPAK research team thanks the volunteers who participated in the CARTESIAN-Cy study.