The Long-COVID autonomic syndrome in hospitalized patients : A one-year prospective cohort study

Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V..

Long-COVID syndrome is characterized by fatigue, orthostatic intolerance, tachycardia, pain, memory difficulties, and brain fog, which may be associated with autonomic nervous system abnormalities. We aimed to evaluate the short and long-term course of COVID-19 autonomic symptoms and quality of life (QoL) after SARS-CoV-2 infection through a one-year follow-up combined with validated questionnaires. Additionally, we aimed to identify patients with worsening autonomic symptoms at 6 and 12 months by dividing the patient cohort into two sub-groups: the Post-COVID healed Control sub-group (total score<16.4) and the Long-COVID autonomic syndrome sub-group (total score>16.4). This prospective cohort studied 112 SARS-CoV-2 positive patients discharged from Humanitas Research Hospital between January and March 2021. Autonomic symptoms and QoL were assessed using the composite autonomic symptom scale 31 (COMPASS-31) and Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaires at various time points: before SARS-CoV-2 infection (PRE), at hospital discharge (T0), and at 1 (T1), 3 (T3), 6 (T6), and 12 (T12) months of follow-up. COMPASS-31 total score, Orthostatic Intolerance and Gastrointestinal function indices, QoL, physical functioning, pain, and fatigue scores worsened at T0 compared to PRE but progressively improved at T1 and T3, reflecting the acute phase of COVID-19. Unexpectedly, these indices worsened at T6 and T12 compared to T3. Subgroup analysis revealed that 47% of patients experienced worsening autonomic symptoms at T6 and T12, indicating Long-COVID autonomic syndrome. Early rehabilitative and pharmacological therapy is recommended for patients at the T1 and T3 stages after SARS-CoV-2 infection to minimize the risk of developing long-term autonomic syndrome.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2024

Erschienen:

2024

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:120

Enthalten in:

European journal of internal medicine - 120(2024) vom: 15. Feb., Seite 38-45

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Rigo, Stefano [VerfasserIn]
Barbic, Franca [VerfasserIn]
Khalaf, Kareem [VerfasserIn]
Bisoglio, Andrea [VerfasserIn]
Pani, Margherita [VerfasserIn]
Minonzio, Maura [VerfasserIn]
Rinaldi, Luca [VerfasserIn]
Ciccarelli, Michele [VerfasserIn]
Bordoni, Maria Grazia [VerfasserIn]
Verzeletti, Paolo [VerfasserIn]
Badilini, Fabio [VerfasserIn]
Bonovas, Stefanos [VerfasserIn]
Piovani, Daniele [VerfasserIn]
Shiffer, Dana [VerfasserIn]
Furlan, Raffaello [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

Autonomic symptoms
Covid-19
Journal Article
Long-COVID
Quality of life
SARS-CoV-2

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 06.02.2024

Date Revised 06.02.2024

published: Print-Electronic

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.1016/j.ejim.2023.08.018

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM36150571X