| Autor: |
Acanfora D; Department of Internal Medicine, San Francesco Hospital, Viale Europa 21, 82037 Telese Terme, Italy., Nolano M; Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University Federico II of Naples, 80131 Naples, Italy.; Neurology Department, Skin Biopsy Laboratory, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, 82037 Telese Terme, Italy., Acanfora C; Department of Internal Medicine, San Francesco Hospital, Viale Europa 21, 82037 Telese Terme, Italy.; Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Science, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy., Colella C; Department of Internal Medicine, San Francesco Hospital, Viale Europa 21, 82037 Telese Terme, Italy., Provitera V; Neurology Department, Skin Biopsy Laboratory, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, 82037 Telese Terme, Italy., Caporaso G; Neurology Department, Skin Biopsy Laboratory, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, 82037 Telese Terme, Italy., Rodolico GR; Department of Neurology, Careggi University Hospital, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy., Bortone AS; Division of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, University of Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy., Galasso G; Department of Medicine Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, 84121 Salerno, Italy., Casucci G; Department of Internal Medicine, San Francesco Hospital, Viale Europa 21, 82037 Telese Terme, Italy. |
| Abstrakt: |
Long-COVID-19 refers to the signs and symptoms that continue or develop after the “acute COVID-19” phase. These patients have an increased risk of multiorgan dysfunction, readmission, and mortality. In Long-COVID-19 patients, it is possible to detect a persistent increase in D-Dimer, NT-ProBNP, and autonomic nervous system dysfunction. To verify the dysautonomia hypothesis in Long-COVID-19 patients, we studied heart rate variability using 12-lead 24-h ECG monitoring in 30 Long-COVID-19 patients and 20 No-COVID patients. Power spectral analysis of heart rate variability was lower in Long-COVID-19 patients both for total power (7.46 ± 0.5 vs. 8.08 ± 0.6; p < 0.0001; Cohens-d = 1.12) and for the VLF (6.84 ± 0.8 vs. 7.66 ± 0.6; p < 0.0001; Cohens-d = 1.16) and HF (4.65 ± 0.9 vs. 5.33 ± 0.9; p = 0.015; Cohens-d = 0.76) components. The LF/HF ratio was significantly higher in Long-COVID-19 patients (1.46 ± 0.27 vs. 1.23 ± 0.13; p = 0.001; Cohens-d = 1.09). On multivariable analysis, Long-COVID-19 is significantly correlated with D-dimer (standardized β-coefficient = 0.259), NT-ProBNP (standardized β-coefficient = 0.281), HF component of spectral analysis (standardized β-coefficient = 0.696), and LF/HF ratio (standardized β-coefficient = 0.820). Dysautonomia may explain the persistent symptoms in Long COVID-19 patients. The persistence of a procoagulative state and an elevated myocardial strain could explain vagal impairment in these patients. In Long-COVID-19 patients, impaired vagal activity, persistent increases of NT-ProBNP, and a prothrombotic state require careful monitoring and appropriate intervention. |
