Covid-19 and arterial stiffness in vaccinated young adults without prior co-morbidities. a cross-sectional analysis of the fit@4covid cohort study

Objective: The long-term consequences of COVID-19 amongst survivors of acute infection are unknown, particularly on the cardiovascular system. Given the ability of the virus to affect the arterial wall, the question emerges to whether COVID-19 has a negative modulating effect of the vascular aging trajectory, conveying accelerated arterial stiffening and endothelial dysfunction, and thus, contributing to an increased CV risk over the life course. Objective: The main aim of this study was to ascertain the consequences of COVID-19 on arterial stiffness, by measuring PWV and thereby evaluating the presence of EVA. Secondary objectives of the study include investigating the effect of the SARS-CoV-2 infection on haemodynamic parameters measured by PWA. Design and method: A cross-sectional analysis of the initial data from the Fit@4COVID cohort was made. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) and carotid pulse wave analysis (PWA) were evaluated in participants with (Covid19 group) and without (Control group) prior infection with SARS-CoV-2. Groups were matched for age and gender. Blood samples were taken for confirmation of prior exposition to the virus and to study the immune and inflammatory profile. Results: A total of 60 participants, equally divided in two groups, were enrolled, with a mean age of 20 ± 1.0 years. No significant differences were observed between groups concerning anthropometric, sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. Significant differences between-groups were observed for PWV (control: 5.84 ± 0.33 m/s, Covid19: 6.19 ± 0,47 m/s; p < 0.01), even after adjusting for mean arterial pressure (p = 0.019). Significant differences were also depicted for central systolic blood pressure, with 106.40 ± 9.27 mmHg in the control group and 115.00 ± 11.23 mmHg in the Covid19 group (p = .012). Similar results were found when observing brachial systolic blood pressure, central pulse pressure and brachial pulse pressure, all of which showed higher values in the Covid19 group. Conclusions: The cross-sectional analysis of the initial Fit@4COVID data buttresses a relevant impact of the SARS-CoV-2 virus over the arterial wall, even in healthy young adults with mild forms of COVID-19. The long-term effects of COVID-19 over the cardiovascular system remains to be demonstrated.