Parasympathetic autonomic dysfunction is more often evidenced than sympathetic autonomic dysfunction in fluctuating and polymorphic symptoms of "long-COVID" patients.

Several disabling symptoms potentially related to dysautonomia have been reported in "long-COVID" patients. Unfortunately, these symptoms are often nonspecific, and autonomic nervous system explorations are rarely performed in these patients. This study aimed to evaluate prospectively a cohort of long-COVID patients presenting severe disabling and non-relapsing symptoms of potential dysautonomia and to identify sensitive tests. Autonomic function was assessed by clinical examination, the Schirmer test; sudomotor evaluation, orthostatic blood pressure (BP) variation, 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring for sympathetic evaluation, and heart rate variation during orthostatism, deep breathing and Valsalva maneuvers for parasympathetic evaluation. Test results were considered abnormal if they reached the lower thresholds defined in publications and in our department. We also compared mean values for autonomic function tests between patients and age-matched controls. Sixteen patients (median age 37 years [31-43 years], 15 women) were included in this study and referred 14.5 months (median) [12.0-16.5 months] after initial infection. Nine had at least one positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR or serology result. Symptoms after SARS-CoV-2 infection were severe, fluctuating and disabling with effort intolerance. Six patients (37.5%) had one or several abnormal test results, affecting the parasympathetic cardiac function in five of them (31%). Mean Valsalva score was significantly lower in patients than in controls. In this cohort of severely disabled long-COVID patients, 37.5% of them had at least one abnormal test result showing a possible contribution of dysautonomia to these nonspecific symptoms. Interestingly, mean values of the Valsalva test were significantly lower in patients than in control subjects, suggesting that normal values thresholds might not be appropriate in this population.

Patient-Centered Paradigm for Managing Autonomic Long COVID Symptoms During Sports and Exercise.

ABSTRACT: This report highlights a new, patient-centered paradigm for managing post-COVID-19 dysautonomia symptoms during sports and exercise. The patient was a healthcare worker exposed before vaccination. She experienced postural orthostatic tachycardia plus exertional tachycardia, with postexertional fatigue, beginning a few weeks after testing positive for COVID-19. Stress test, echo, and an extensive dysautonomia evaluation were negative. Recommended nonpharmacological and pharmacological interventions were poorly tolerated. Prescription of a novel regimen of "basal-dose" ivabradine, plus very low-dose metoprolol according to an exertional "sliding scale" managed symptoms to an acceptable level for work and recreation.

Severe Post-COVID-19 dysautonomia: a case report.

BACKGROUND: The emergence of dysautonomia as a consequence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2; or COVID-19) is becoming more prevalent. We have seen evidence in several post-COVID patients and in the literature of varying degrees of autonomic dysfunction. Symptoms, among others, include inappropriate tachycardia, sweating, anxiety, insomnia and blood pressure variability from the effects of excessive catecholamine, as well as cognitive impairment, fatigue, headaches and orthostatic intolerance from decreased brain perfusion. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of severe dysautonomia in a previously healthy 27-year-old runner. About five weeks after her initial mild COVID-19 infection, the patient began to develop weakness, which progressed into severe post-exertional fatigue, slowed cognition, headaches, blurred vision and generalized body aches. She also endorsed palpitations, especially when getting up from a seated or lying position as well as with mild exertion. She became reliant on her husband for help with her activities of daily living. Exam was significant for orthostasis; laboratory workup unremarkable. Over the following months, the patient's symptoms have improved slowly with fluid and sodium intake, compression stockings and participating in a graduated exercise program. CONCLUSIONS: Dysautonomia as a consequence of infection with COVID-19 is becoming increasingly discussed, especially as more patients recover from COVID-19. This is a case of a non-hospitalized patient with a mild initial presentation and significant, debilitating dysautonomia symptoms. More research on its pathophysiology, especially in relation to a precedent viral insult, as well as its treatment, is needed.

Dysautonomia following COVID-19 is not associated with subjective limitations or symptoms but is associated with objective functional limitations.

BACKGROUND: Individuals who contract coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can suffer with persistent and debilitating symptoms long after the initial acute illness. Heart rate (HR) profiles determined during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) and delivered as part of a post-COVID recovery service may provide insight into the presence and impact of dysautonomia on functional ability. OBJECTIVE: Using an active, working-age, post-COVID-19 population, the purpose of this study was to (1) determine and characterize any association between subjective symptoms and dysautonomia; and (2) identify objective exercise capacity differences between patients classified "with" and those "without" dysautonomia. METHODS: Patients referred to a post-COVID-19 service underwent comprehensive clinical assessment, including self-reported symptoms, CPET, and secondary care investigations when indicated. Resting HR >75 bpm, HR increase with exercise <89 bpm, and HR recovery <25 bpm 1 minute after exercise were used to define dysautonomia. Anonymized data were analyzed and associations with symptoms, and CPET outcomes were determined. RESULTS: Fifty-one of the 205 patients (25%) reviewed as part of this service evaluation had dysautonomia. There were no associations between symptoms or perceived functional limitation and dysautonomia (P >.05). Patients with dysautonomia demonstrated objective functional limitations with significantly reduced work rate (219 ± 37 W vs 253 ± 52 W; P <.001) and peak oxygen consumption (V̇o2: 30.6 ± 5.5 mL/kg/min vs 35.8 ± 7.6 mL/kg/min; P <.001); and a steeper (less efficient) V̇e/V̇co2 slope (29.9 ± 4.9 vs 27.7 ± 4.7; P = .005). CONCLUSION: Dysautonomia is associated with objective functional limitations but is not associated with subjective symptoms or limitation.

Cardiovascular complications of COVID-19.

The emergence of the novel SARS coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has resulted in an unprecedented pandemic that has been accompanied by a global health crisis. Although the lungs are the main organs involved in COVID-19, systemic disease with a wide range of clinical manifestations also develops in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. One of the major systems affected by this virus is the cardiovascular system. The presence of preexisting cardiovascular disease increases mortality in patients with COVID-19, and cardiovascular injuries, including myocarditis, cardiac rhythm abnormalities, endothelial cell injury, thrombotic events, and myocardial interstitial fibrosis, are observed in some patients with COVID-19. The underlying pathophysiology of COVID-19-associated cardiovascular complications is not fully understood, although direct viral infection of myocardium and cytokine storm have been suggested as possible mechanisms of myocarditis. In this Review, we summarize available data on SARS-CoV-2-related cardiac damage and discuss potential mechanisms of cardiovascular implications of this rapidly spreading virus.