Accelerated vascular ageing after COVID-19 infection: the CARTESIAN study
Overview
Paper Summary
This large, multinational study found that COVID-19 infection is linked to faster aging of blood vessels, especially in women, as measured by pulse wave velocity. The effect was seen even in people who weren't hospitalized for COVID-19, and it seems to partially reverse after a year. The study was observational and lacked baseline data, making it hard to rule out pre-existing conditions or other factors contributing to vascular aging.
Explain Like I'm Five
COVID-19 infection seems to make blood vessels age faster, especially in women. This might explain why some people have heart problems after having COVID-19.
Possible Conflicts of Interest
The study received funding from several organizations, including The Artery Society and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Some devices were provided on free loan by manufacturers like IEM GmbH, Quipu srl, AtCor Medical, and Visualsonics Fujifilm, which could potentially represent a conflict of interest, though seemingly minimal. No other conflicts were explicitly declared.
Identified Limitations
Rating Explanation
This is a large, multinational study using a reliable method for measuring vascular aging. While there are limitations due to its observational design and lack of baseline data, the findings are important and potentially contribute to our understanding of long-term COVID-19 effects. The study's large sample size, follow-up data, and standardized methodology strengthen its conclusions.
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