Overview

• The multinational cohort of 2,390 participants showed increased carotid-to-femoral pulse-wave velocity at six and 12 months post-infection compared to non-infected controls.
• Women and participants with Long Covid showed stronger vascular-aging effects than men and those without prolonged symptoms.
• Vaccinated participants exhibited attenuated vascular aging, with smaller pulse-wave velocity elevations than their unvaccinated counterparts.
• Among those treated in intensive care units, arterial stiffness partially reversed by the 12-month follow-up, suggesting clinical course influences outcomes.
• Experts caution that the observational design, potential survival biases and unresolved confounders prevent firm conclusions on causality and highlight the need for targeted mechanistic research.