Abstract
Introduction Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may lead to impaired cardiovascular function in middle-age and older adults. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of COVID-19 on arterial stiffness in previously healthy women and men.
Methods Eighty-four healthy individuals with history of COVID-19 (mean age: 60±7 years, 55% women) and 40 individuals without history of COVID-19 (mean age: 63±7 years, 63% women) were recruited to the study between May 2021 and January 2023. Participants with a history of confirmed COVID-19 were recruited at least 28 days post recovery and within 18 months of infection. All participants underwent arterial stiffness assessment using non-invasive technology based on pulse wave velocity and pulse wave analysis using the Sphygmocor Xcel (AtCor Medical, Sydney, Australia). The outcome measures of arterial function and stiffness included pulse wave velocity (PWV), central augmentation index (C-AIx), and aortic augmentation index (A-AIx)).
Results There were no significant differences between COVID and non-COVID groups in body weight (78±14 vs. 74±14 kg, p=0.33), height (168±9.1 vs. 166±9.0 cm, p=0.27) and body mass index (27.0±4.2 vs. 26.5±3.8, p=0.59), respectively. Arterial blood pressure was not significantly different between COVID and non-COVID groups (systolic: 134±17 vs. 131±17 mmHg, p=0.39; diastolic: 83±8 vs. 81±10 mmHg p=0.16). There was no significant difference between the COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 group in measures of arterial stiffness including PWV (7.46±1.74 vs. 7.32±1.79 ms-1, p=0.69), C-AIx (29.2±9.12 vs. 29.2±8.44 %, p=0.98) and A-AIx (131±8.31 vs. 131±8.12 %, p=0.94). No significant difference was found in age between men and women in the COVID group (60.4±7.5 vs. 58.8±7.4 years, p=0.35), and the non-COVID group (64.5±6.0 vs. 61.7±7.8 years, p=0.23), respectively. Sex analysis within the COVID group revealed that men demonstrate significantly lower values of C-AIx and A-AIx than women (24.6±8.59 vs. 33.0±7.77 %, p<0.01; and 126±6.77 vs. 134±7.77 %, p<0.01). In the non-COVID group, there were no significant differences between women and men in augmentation index values (C-AIx, 30.3±8.16 vs. 28.5±8.70 %, p=0.50; and A-AIx, 131±7.96 vs. 130±8.29 %, p=0.49).
Conclusion The findings from the present study suggest that within 18 months of infection, COVID-19 may lead to a significant increase in augmentation index, a marker of arterial stiffness, in middle-age and older women compared to men.
Methods Eighty-four healthy individuals with history of COVID-19 (mean age: 60±7 years, 55% women) and 40 individuals without history of COVID-19 (mean age: 63±7 years, 63% women) were recruited to the study between May 2021 and January 2023. Participants with a history of confirmed COVID-19 were recruited at least 28 days post recovery and within 18 months of infection. All participants underwent arterial stiffness assessment using non-invasive technology based on pulse wave velocity and pulse wave analysis using the Sphygmocor Xcel (AtCor Medical, Sydney, Australia). The outcome measures of arterial function and stiffness included pulse wave velocity (PWV), central augmentation index (C-AIx), and aortic augmentation index (A-AIx)).
Results There were no significant differences between COVID and non-COVID groups in body weight (78±14 vs. 74±14 kg, p=0.33), height (168±9.1 vs. 166±9.0 cm, p=0.27) and body mass index (27.0±4.2 vs. 26.5±3.8, p=0.59), respectively. Arterial blood pressure was not significantly different between COVID and non-COVID groups (systolic: 134±17 vs. 131±17 mmHg, p=0.39; diastolic: 83±8 vs. 81±10 mmHg p=0.16). There was no significant difference between the COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 group in measures of arterial stiffness including PWV (7.46±1.74 vs. 7.32±1.79 ms-1, p=0.69), C-AIx (29.2±9.12 vs. 29.2±8.44 %, p=0.98) and A-AIx (131±8.31 vs. 131±8.12 %, p=0.94). No significant difference was found in age between men and women in the COVID group (60.4±7.5 vs. 58.8±7.4 years, p=0.35), and the non-COVID group (64.5±6.0 vs. 61.7±7.8 years, p=0.23), respectively. Sex analysis within the COVID group revealed that men demonstrate significantly lower values of C-AIx and A-AIx than women (24.6±8.59 vs. 33.0±7.77 %, p<0.01; and 126±6.77 vs. 134±7.77 %, p<0.01). In the non-COVID group, there were no significant differences between women and men in augmentation index values (C-AIx, 30.3±8.16 vs. 28.5±8.70 %, p=0.50; and A-AIx, 131±7.96 vs. 130±8.29 %, p=0.49).
Conclusion The findings from the present study suggest that within 18 months of infection, COVID-19 may lead to a significant increase in augmentation index, a marker of arterial stiffness, in middle-age and older women compared to men.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Number of pages | 1 |
| Journal | Heart |
| Volume | 109 |
| Issue number | Supp 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2 Jun 2023 |