ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Long COVID (LC), also known as post-COVID-19 syndrome, refers to symptoms persisting 12 weeks after COVID-19 infection. It affects up to one in seven people contracting the illness and causes a wide range of symptoms, including fatigue, breathlessness, palpitations, dizziness, pain and brain fog. Many of these symptoms can be linked to dysautonomia or dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system after SARS-CoV2 infection. This study aims to test the feasibility and estimate the efficacy, of the heart rate variability biofeedback (HRV-B) technique via a standardised slow diaphragmatic breathing programme in individuals with LC. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: 30 adult LC patients with symptoms of palpitations or dizziness and an abnormal NASA Lean Test will be selected from a specialist Long COVID rehabilitation service. They will undergo a 4-week HRV-B intervention using a Polar chest strap device linked to the Elite HRV phone application while undertaking the breathing exercise technique for two 10 min periods everyday for at least 5 days a week. Quantitative data will be gathered during the study period using: HRV data from the chest strap and wrist-worn Fitbit, the modified COVID-19 Yorkshire Rehabilitation Scale, Composite Autonomic Symptom Score, WHO Disability Assessment Schedule and EQ-5D-5L health-related quality of life measures. Qualitative feedback on user experience and feasibility of using the technology in a home setting will also be gathered. Standard statistical tests for correlation and significant difference will be used to analyse the quantitate data. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study has received ethical approval from Health Research Authority (HRA) Leicester South Research Ethics Committee (21/EM/0271). Dissemination plans include academic and lay publications. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT05228665.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Adult , Humans , Biofeedback, Psychology/methods , Dizziness , Feasibility Studies , Heart Rate/physiology , Quality of Life , RNA, Viral , SARS-CoV-2 , Post-Acute COVID-19 SyndromeABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The underlying pathophysiology of post-coronavirus disease 2019 (long-COVID-19) syndrome remains unknown, but increased cardiometabolic demand and state of mitochondrial dysfunction have emerged as candidate mechanisms. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) provides insight into pathophysiological mechanisms underlying cardiovascular disease and 31-phosphorus CMR spectroscopy (31P-CMRS) allows non-invasive assessment of the myocardial energetic state. The main aim of the study was to assess whether long COVID-19 syndrome is associated with abnormalities of myocardial structure, function, perfusion and energy metabolism. METHODS: Prospective case-control study. A total of 20 patients with a clinical diagnosis of long COVID-19 syndrome (seropositive) and no prior underlying cardiovascular disease (CVD) and 10 matching healthy controls underwent 31P-CMRS and CMR at 3T at a single time point. All patients had been symptomatic with acute COVID-19, but none required hospital admission. RESULTS: Between the long COVID-19 syndrome patients and matched contemporary healthy controls there were no differences in myocardial energetics (phosphocreatine to ATP ratio), in cardiac structure (biventricular volumes), function (biventricular ejection fractions, global longitudinal strain), tissue characterization (T1 mapping and late gadolinium enhancement) or perfusion (myocardial rest and stress blood flow, myocardial perfusion reserve). One patient with long COVID-19 syndrome showed subepicardial hyperenhancement on late gadolinium enhancement imaging compatible with prior myocarditis, but no accompanying abnormality in cardiac size, function, perfusion, extracellular volume fraction, native T1, T2 or cardiac energetics. CONCLUSIONS: In this prospective case-control study, the overwhelming majority of patients with a clinical long COVID-19 syndrome with no prior CVD did not exhibit any abnormalities in myocardial energetics, structure, function, blood flow or tissue characteristics.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Myocarditis , COVID-19/complications , Case-Control Studies , Contrast Media , Gadolinium , Humans , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Predictive Value of Tests , Spectrum Analysis , Post-Acute COVID-19 SyndromeABSTRACT
150 Table 1Comparison of 31P-MRS and CMR findings between patients with Post-COVID-19 syndrome and healthy volunteersVariable Healthy volunteers (n=10) Post-COVID-19 Syndrome (n=19) p-value PCr/ATP ratio 2.11±0.5 2.24±0.4 0.49 LV end diastolic volume index (ml/m2) 87±20 81±10 0.43 LV ejection fraction (%) 64±4 61±4 0.07 RV end diastolic volume index (ml/m2) 93±23 83±13 0.24 RV ejection fraction (%) 55±8 57±6 0.49 Global longitudinal strain (%) -13.3±2.3 -11.9±3.7 0.21 Mean T1 (ms) 1206±64 1158±114 0.15 Extra-cellular volume (%) 25±2.3 22±4.5 0.03 T2 (ms) 39±2.4 40±2.9 0.46 MPR 3.1±0.9 3.0±0.8 0.89 Continuous variables are expressed as mean (SD) or median (IQR) and categorical variables as number (%). PCr/ATP=phosphocreatine and adenosine triphosphate ratio;LV=left ventricular;ml/m2=milliliters per square meter of body surface area;RV=right ventricular;ms=milliseconds;MPR=myocardial perfusion reserve. 150 Figure 1Evaluation of Cardiac Involvement in Post COVID-19 Syndrome[Figure omitted. See PDF]Conflict of InterestNone