A major international study involving Australian participants has revealed that Covid-19 may accelerate the ageing of blood vessels, particularly in women, raising fresh concerns about the long-term cardiovascular risks of the virus.
The research, published in the European Heart Journal, tracked more than 2,300 people across 16 countries, including Australia, the UK, France, the US and Brazil. Using standard measures of arterial stiffness, scientists found that those who had been infected with Covid-19 showed significantly stiffer arteries compared to people who had never contracted the virus—even up to a year later.
This stiffening of the arteries, known as “vascular ageing,” is closely linked to higher risks of heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases. Alarmingly, the effect was most pronounced in women and in patients with ongoing “long Covid” symptoms such as fatigue and breathlessness.
Lead researcher Professor Rosa Maria Bruno of Université Paris Cité said the findings underscored how much more there was to learn about the virus’s long-term effects.
“We know that Covid can directly affect blood vessels. This may result in early vascular ageing, meaning your blood vessels are biologically older than your actual age, making you more vulnerable to heart disease,” she said.
For women, even a mild infection appeared to accelerate vascular ageing by the equivalent of five years. For example, a 60-year-old woman who had experienced Covid could see her cardiovascular risk increase by about three per cent. Those who were hospitalised—especially in intensive care—showed even greater levels of damage.
Australian cardiologists say the findings are a reminder that the pandemic’s legacy is not just about infection control but also long-term public health. With cardiovascular disease already the nation’s leading cause of death, the results raise questions about how the health system should prepare for a potential rise in post-Covid heart conditions.
The research also found vaccination offered some protection, with vaccinated patients generally showing less stiffening of their arteries compared to those who were unvaccinated. In some cases, arterial changes appeared to stabilise or slightly improve over time.
Professor Bruno stressed that vascular ageing can be detected and treated with accessible interventions such as lifestyle changes, blood pressure medications, and cholesterol-lowering drugs.
“For those showing accelerated vascular ageing, the key is early detection and proactive treatment to prevent heart attacks and strokes,” she said.
Australian researchers involved in the study said they would continue monitoring local participants in the years ahead to see whether these early warning signs translate into higher rates of cardiovascular disease in the community.
