Revealing the Hidden Impacts: Insights into Biological Aging and Long-Term Effects in Pauci- and Asymptomatic COVID-19 Healthcare Workers.

ABSTRACT: This study explores the role of inflammation and oxidative stress, hallmarks of COVID-19, in accelerating cellular biological aging. We investigated early molecular markers-DNA methylation age (DNAmAge) and telomere length (TL)-in blood leukocytes, nasal cells (NCs), and induced sputum (IS) one year post-infection in pauci- and asymptomatic healthcare workers (HCWs) infected during the first pandemic wave (February-May 2020), compared to COPD patients, model for "aged lung". Data from questionnaires, Work Ability Index (WAI), blood analyses, autonomic cardiac balance assessments, heart rate variability (HRV), and pulmonary function tests were collected. Elevated leukocyte DNAmAge significantly correlated with advancing age, male sex, daytime work, and an aged phenotype characterized by chr

SUBMITTER: Campisi M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11311509 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature