ABSTRACT
Background and aims: Relative Bradycardia (RB) is a poorly understood condition that refers to inappropriately low heart rate response to a given increase in body temperature. Dysfunctional crosstalk between the immune system and the autonomous nervous system has been advocated. It is most often observed in intracellular gram negative and parasitic infections, with a prevalence ranging between 15% and 20%. The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence, clinical determinants and significance of RB in patients hospitalized for SARS-CoV-2 infection and to evaluate its prognostic value for long-covid syndrome during follow-up. Method(s): We enrolled consecutive patients hospitalized for SARS-CoV-2 infection from March 2020 to April 2021. We collected clinical parameters including clinostatic and orthostatic blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) at 1,3 and 5 minutes, oxygen saturation, body temperature (BT), routine blood tests, 12-lead ECG, and 48-h Holter ECG. At follow up, clinical symptoms were investigated by novel Malmo POTS Symptoms (MAPS) questionnaire. Result(s): Total population included 269 inpatients (mean age 67+/-17 years, 59% male).Of these, 30 (11%) presented with sinus bradycardia and 37 (14%) RB. RB was more frequently observed in younger male patients with higher BT and heightened CRP levels. There were no significant correlations between BP and HR orthostatic changes and BR during hospital admission or during follow-up. No clinically relevant arrhythmias were revealed during 48-hour ECG monitoring. After mean16-month follow-up, MAPS score was higher in patients with RB (30+/-19) compared to those without RB (18+/-21, p=0.001) during index hospital admission. Dizziness, palpitations and fatigue were more frequently reported in patients with RB(p<0.001). Conclusion(s): RB is not an uncommon condition during acute COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2 inpatients who presented RB during index hospitalization showed a higher symptom burden during follow-up, as recorded by MAPS score. Further studies are needed to clarify the clinical significance of RB and its value to predict post-acute sequelae of COVID-19. (Figure Presented).
ABSTRACT
Background and aims: Echocardiographic Pulmonary to Left Atrial ratio (ePLAR, tricuspid regurgitation Vmax/mitral E/e') represents an accurate and sensitive non-invasive tool to estimate trans-pulmonary pressure gradient, showing a sensitivity for pre-capillary pulmonary obstruction higher than traditional echocardiographic measures. The prognostic value of ePLAR in patients with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) remains unknown. We aimed to investigate the predictive role of ePLAR on mortality in COVID-19 patients. Method(s): One hundred consecutive patients admitted in two Italian institutions for COVID-19 undergoing early echocardiographic examination were included. ePLAR was determined from the maximum tricuspid regurgitation velocity at continuous wave Doppler (m/s) divided by the transmitral E-wave: septal mitral annular Doppler Tissue Imaging e'-wave ratio (TRVmax/E:e'). Main outcome measure was inhospital death. Result(s): Patients who died during hospitalization had a higher prevalence of tricuspid regurgitation, higher ePLAR and right-side pressures, lower Tricuspid Annular Plane Systolic Excursion (TAPSE)/Pulmonary Artery Systolic Pressure (PASP) ratio and reduced inferior vena cava collapse than survivors. Patients with ePLAR >0.28 m/s showed increased in-hospital mortality compared to those having ePLAR <=0.28 m/s (27% vs 10.8%, p=0.05, Figure). A Cox model of multivariate analysis demonstrated that an ePLAR >0.28 m/s was independently associated with increased risk of death (HR 5.07, 95% CI 1.04-24.50, p=0.043), particularly among patients with increased pulmonary arterial pressure. Conclusion(s): A high ePLAR value at baseline predicts in-hospital death in patients with COVID-19, especially in those with elevated pulmonary arterial pressure. These results support an early ePLAR assessment in patients admitted for COVID-19 to identify those at higher risk and potentially to guide strategies of diagnosis and treatment. (Figure Presented).
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has strongly affected young population all over the world. The present study explores the effects of COVID-19 on physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and diet in a population of 435 menopausal women during the first phase of the pandemic (so-called the "first wave") and during the second spread of infections, after the summer release (so-called "second wave"). Women reported an increase in perceived stress and emotional distress which led to an increase in amount of food (42%), an increase in the consumption of snacks and junk food (48%) and to a switch to an unhealthy diet (46%) and weight gain in 51% of subjects. Most women stopped any physical activity, including outdoor walking, except for a small group (54 = 12%) who continued exercising at home. Unexpectedly, the second wave led to similar results as the first wave. Despite the increase in knowledge about the virus, therapies and the rapid development of vaccines to contain the spread of the disease, fear, stress and anxiety have not diminished as expected. In conclusion, the adoption of an unhealthy lifestyle during the pandemic and the persistence of these behaviors has determined and will cause important damage to the health of women in menopause, in particular an increase in obesity and related metabolic diseases is expected