Arterial stiffness and vascular ageing in COVID-19 recovered young patients – A comparative study

Background: Many studies suggest the effect of SARS-COV2 on the renin angiotensin system causing arterial stiffness in acute cases of COVID-19 infection. However, no study has been conducted to analyze the long-term effect. Hence, this study was planned. Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, pulse pressure, pulse wave velocity, ankle brachial index, arterial stiffness index, and percentage mean arterial pressure (MAP) in COVID-19 recovered young patients without any history of comorbidity and compare it to apparently healthy age-matched controls. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional case–control study was conducted at a tertiary care center on 120 healthy volunteers in the age group 18–30 years after written informed consent. Inclusion Criteria: Cases are patients with a history of reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) positive COVID-19 report, age-matched control having no history of RT-PCR positive report. Group P (6–12 months), Group Q (more than 12–18 months), and Group R (more than 18 months) after being tested RT-PCR positive. Group C is the control. The analysis of variance test was used for analysis. Results: Heart rate and peripheral pulse wave velocity are significantly increased in all three groups as compared to the control. Right brachial and right ankle arterial stiffness index and percentage MAP in the right and left ankle are significantly increased in all three case groups compared to the control group. Conclusion: The patients with a history of COVID-19 infection are at an increased risk of arterial stiffness and vascular ageing.