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Moniz M, Ruivinho C, Goes AR, Soares P, Leite A. Long COVID is not the same for everyone: a hierarchical cluster analysis of Long COVID symptoms 9 and 12 months after SARS-CoV-2 test. BMC Infect Dis 2024; 24:1001. [PMID: 39294567 PMCID: PMC11412022 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-024-09896-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 09/06/2024] [Indexed: 09/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Identifying symptom clusters in Long COVID is necessary for developing effective therapies for this diverse condition and improving the quality of life of those affected by this heterogeneous condition. In this study, we aimed to identify and compare symptom clusters at 9 and 12 months after a SARS-CoV-2 positive test and describe each cluster regarding factors at infection. METHODS This is a cross-sectional study with individuals randomly selected from the Portuguese National System of Epidemiological Surveillance (SINAVE) database. Individuals who had a positive RT-PCR SARS-CoV-2 test in August 2022 were contacted to participate in a telephonic interview approximately 9 and 12 months after the test. A hierarchical clustering analysis was performed, using Euclidean distance and Ward's linkage. Clustering was performed in the 35 symptoms reported 9 and 12 months after the SARS-CoV-2 positive test and characterised considering age, sex, pre-existing health conditions and symptoms at time of SARS-CoV-2 infection. RESULTS 552 individuals were included at 9 months and 458 at 12 months. The median age was 52 years (IQR: 40-64 years) and 59% were female. Hypertension and high cholesterol were the most frequently reported pre-existing health conditions. Memory loss, fatigue or weakness and joint pain were the most frequent symptoms reported 9 and 12 months after the positive test. Four clusters were identified at both times: no or minor symptoms; multi-symptoms; joint pain; and neurocognitive-related symptoms. Clusters remained similar in both times, but, within the neurocognitive cluster, memory loss and concentration issues increased in frequency at 12 months. Multi-symptoms cluster had older people, more females and more pre-existing health conditions at 9 months. However, at 12 months, older people and those with more pre-existing health conditions were in joint pain cluster. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that Long COVID is not the same for everyone. In our study, clusters remained similar at 9 and 12 months, except for a slight variation in the frequency of symptoms that composed each cluster. Understanding Long COVID clusters might help identify treatments for this condition. However, further validation of the observed clusters and analysis of its risk factors is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Moniz
- Public Health Research Centre, Comprehensive Health Research Center, NOVA National School of Public Health, CHRC, REAL, CCAL, NOVA University Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - Carolina Ruivinho
- Public Health Research Centre, Comprehensive Health Research Center, NOVA National School of Public Health, CHRC, REAL, CCAL, NOVA University Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ana Rita Goes
- Public Health Research Centre, Comprehensive Health Research Center, NOVA National School of Public Health, CHRC, REAL, CCAL, NOVA University Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Patrícia Soares
- Public Health Research Centre, Comprehensive Health Research Center, NOVA National School of Public Health, CHRC, REAL, CCAL, NOVA University Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
- National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Andreia Leite
- Public Health Research Centre, Comprehensive Health Research Center, NOVA National School of Public Health, CHRC, REAL, CCAL, NOVA University Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
- National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal
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2
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Brus IM, Spronk I, Polinder S, Loohuis AGMO, Tieleman P, Heemskerk SCM, Biere-Rafi S, Haagsma JA. Self-perceived barriers to healthcare access for patients with post COVID-19 condition. BMC Health Serv Res 2024; 24:1035. [PMID: 39243076 PMCID: PMC11378429 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-024-11488-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 08/24/2024] [Indexed: 09/09/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many patients with post COVID-19 condition (PCC) require healthcare services. However, qualitative studies indicate that patients with PCC encounter many barriers to healthcare access. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine how many PCC patients report barriers to healthcare access and which barriers are reported, and to explore differences between subgroups. METHODS Data were collected via an online survey from 10,462 adult patients with a confirmed or suspected COVID-19 infection in the Netherlands, who experienced persisting symptoms ≥ 3 months after the initial infection. To study self-perceived barriers, a list of eleven possible barriers was used, covering multiple aspects of healthcare access. Differences between subgroups based on sociodemographic characteristics, medical characteristics, PCC symptoms (fatigue, dyspnoea, cognitive problems, anxiety and depression), and healthcare use (general practitioner, paramedical professional, medical specialist, occupational physician and mental health professional) were studied through multivariable multinomial (0 vs. 1 vs. > 1 barrier) and binomial regression analyses (for each individual barrier). RESULTS A total of 83.2% of respondents reported at least one barrier to healthcare access. Respondents reported a median of 2.0 (IQR = 3.0) barriers. The barriers "I didn't know who to turn to for help" (50.9%) and "No one with the right knowledge/skills was available" (36.8%) were most frequently reported. Respondents with younger age, higher educational level, not hospitalized during acute COVID-19 infection, longer disease duration, who had more severe PCC symptoms, and who did not consult an occupational physician or paramedical professional, were more likely to report barriers. Analyses per barrier showed that women were more likely to report financial and help-seeking barriers, while men were more likely to report barriers related to availability of care. Hospitalized respondents were less likely to report barriers related to availability of care, but not less likely to report financial or help-seeking barriers. CONCLUSIONS This study shows that the majority of patients with PCC experiences barriers to healthcare access. Particular attention should be paid to younger, non-hospitalized patients with a long disease duration and severe PCC symptoms. Efforts to remove barriers should focus not only on improving availability of care, but also on helping patients navigate care pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris M Brus
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, Erasmus University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
| | - Inge Spronk
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, Erasmus University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Suzanne Polinder
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, Erasmus University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | | | | | - Stella C M Heemskerk
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, Erasmus University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | | | - Juanita A Haagsma
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, Erasmus University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
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3
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Ganesh R, Munipalli B. Long COVID and hypermobility spectrum disorders have shared pathophysiology. Front Neurol 2024; 15:1455498. [PMID: 39301475 PMCID: PMC11410636 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1455498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2024] [Accepted: 08/02/2024] [Indexed: 09/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD) and hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) are the most common joint hypermobility conditions encountered by physicians, with hypermobile and classical EDS accounting for >90% of all cases. Hypermobility has been detected in up to 30-57% of patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), fibromyalgia, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), and long COVID (LC) compared to the general population. Extrapulmonary symptoms, including musculoskeletal pain, dysautonomia disorders, cognitive disorders, and fatigue, are seen in both LC and HSD. Additionally, ME/CFS has overlapping symptoms with those seen in HSD. Mast cell activation and degranulation occurring in both LC and ME/CFS may result in hyperinflammation and damage to connective tissue in these patients, thereby inducing hypermobility. Persistent inflammation may result in the development or worsening of HSD. Hence, screening for hypermobility and other related conditions including fibromyalgia, POTS, ME/CFS, chronic pain conditions, joint pain, and myalgia is essential for individuals experiencing LC. Pharmacological treatments should be symptom-focused and geared to a patient's presentation. Paced exercise, massage, yoga, and meditation may also provide benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravindra Ganesh
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Bala Munipalli
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States
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Svensson A, Svensson-Raskh A, Holmström L, Hallberg C, Bezuidenhout L, Moulaee Conradsson D, Ståhlberg M, Bruchfeld J, Fedorowski A, Nygren-Bonnier M. Individually tailored exercise in patients with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome related to post-COVID-19 condition - a feasibility study. Sci Rep 2024; 14:20017. [PMID: 39198662 PMCID: PMC11358431 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-71055-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 08/22/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) occurs in approximately 30% of people with highly symptomatic post-COVID-19 condition (PCC). It involves several symptoms that limit physical and psychological functions and cause reduced quality of life. Evidence for different treatments of POTS and PCC is limited, and this study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of individually tailored physical exercise. The secondary aim of the study was to evaluate the preliminary effectiveness of this intervention. Twenty-six participants (81% female, median age 41 years) were enrolled and performed individually tailored endurance and strength training, with progression, for twelve weeks. During the intervention period, the participants had weekly support from a physiotherapist. Feasibility was evaluated with good compliance, with 76% adherence to exercise prescription and 96% completing the study protocol. The treatment was safe, and the evaluation methods (questionnaires, physical assessments, and accelerometer monitoring) were judged to be feasible. After the intervention, improvements in symptom burden as well as in psychological and physical functions were observed. In conclusion, future randomized controlled trials can be performed with only minor adjustments and could include questionnaires, physical assessment and accelerometer monitoring, which were demonstrated as feasible by this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annie Svensson
- Division of Physiotherapy, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Medical Unit Allied Health Professionals, Women's Health and Allied Health Professionals Theme, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Anna Svensson-Raskh
- Division of Physiotherapy, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Medical Unit Allied Health Professionals, Women's Health and Allied Health Professionals Theme, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Linda Holmström
- Medical Unit Allied Health Professionals, Women's Health and Allied Health Professionals Theme, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Carl Hallberg
- Division of Physiotherapy, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Medical Unit Allied Health Professionals, Women's Health and Allied Health Professionals Theme, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lucian Bezuidenhout
- Division of Physiotherapy, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Division of Physiotherapy, Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - David Moulaee Conradsson
- Division of Physiotherapy, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Medical Unit Allied Health Professionals, Women's Health and Allied Health Professionals Theme, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Marcus Ståhlberg
- Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
- Department of Cardiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Judith Bruchfeld
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Artur Fedorowski
- Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
- Department of Cardiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Malin Nygren-Bonnier
- Division of Physiotherapy, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Medical Unit Allied Health Professionals, Women's Health and Allied Health Professionals Theme, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
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5
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Al-Aly Z, Davis H, McCorkell L, Soares L, Wulf-Hanson S, Iwasaki A, Topol EJ. Long COVID science, research and policy. Nat Med 2024; 30:2148-2164. [PMID: 39122965 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-024-03173-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
Long COVID represents the constellation of post-acute and long-term health effects caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection; it is a complex, multisystem disorder that can affect nearly every organ system and can be severely disabling. The cumulative global incidence of long COVID is around 400 million individuals, which is estimated to have an annual economic impact of approximately $1 trillion-equivalent to about 1% of the global economy. Several mechanistic pathways are implicated in long COVID, including viral persistence, immune dysregulation, mitochondrial dysfunction, complement dysregulation, endothelial inflammation and microbiome dysbiosis. Long COVID can have devastating impacts on individual lives and, due to its complexity and prevalence, it also has major ramifications for health systems and economies, even threatening progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Addressing the challenge of long COVID requires an ambitious and coordinated-but so far absent-global research and policy response strategy. In this interdisciplinary review, we provide a synthesis of the state of scientific evidence on long COVID, assess the impacts of long COVID on human health, health systems, the economy and global health metrics, and provide a forward-looking research and policy roadmap.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyad Al-Aly
- VA St. Louis Health Care System, Saint Louis, MO, USA.
- Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, MO, USA.
| | - Hannah Davis
- Patient-led Research Collaborative, Calabasas, CA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Akiko Iwasaki
- Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Eric J Topol
- Scripps Institute, San Diego, California, CA, USA
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6
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O'Neil ST, Madlock-Brown C, Wilkins KJ, McGrath BM, Davis HE, Assaf GS, Wei H, Zareie P, French ET, Loomba J, McMurry JA, Zhou A, Chute CG, Moffitt RA, Pfaff ER, Yoo YJ, Leese P, Chew RF, Lieberman M, Haendel MA. Finding Long-COVID: Temporal Topic Modeling of Electronic Health Records from the N3C and RECOVER Programs. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2023.09.11.23295259. [PMID: 38947087 PMCID: PMC11213052 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.11.23295259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), also known as Long-COVID, encompasses a variety of complex and varied outcomes following COVID-19 infection that are still poorly understood. We clustered over 600 million condition diagnoses from 14 million patients available through the National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C), generating hundreds of highly detailed clinical phenotypes. Assessing patient clinical trajectories using these clusters allowed us to identify individual conditions and phenotypes strongly increased after acute infection. We found many conditions increased in COVID-19 patients compared to controls, and using a novel method to associate patients with clusters over time, we additionally found phenotypes specific to patient sex, age, wave of infection, and PASC diagnosis status. While many of these results reflect known PASC symptoms, the resolution provided by this unprecedented data scale suggests avenues for improved diagnostics and mechanistic understanding of this multifaceted disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shawn T O'Neil
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Charisse Madlock-Brown
- Health Informatics and Information Management Program, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Kenneth J Wilkins
- Biostatistics Program, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Parya Zareie
- University of California Davis Health, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Evan T French
- Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Johanna Loomba
- The Integrated Translational Health Research Institute of Virginia (iTHRIV), University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Julie A McMurry
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Andrea Zhou
- The Integrated Translational Health Research Institute of Virginia (iTHRIV), University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Christopher G Chute
- Schools of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing; Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Richard A Moffitt
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Emily R Pfaff
- NC TraCS Institute, UNC-School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Yun Jae Yoo
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Peter Leese
- NC TraCS Institute, UNC-School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Robert F Chew
- Center for Data Science and AI, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Michael Lieberman
- OCHIN, Inc. Portland, OR, USA
- Department of Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Melissa A Haendel
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
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7
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Fedorowski A, Fanciulli A, Raj SR, Sheldon R, Shibao CA, Sutton R. Cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction in post-COVID-19 syndrome: a major health-care burden. Nat Rev Cardiol 2024; 21:379-395. [PMID: 38163814 DOI: 10.1038/s41569-023-00962-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction (CVAD) is a malfunction of the cardiovascular system caused by deranged autonomic control of circulatory homeostasis. CVAD is an important component of post-COVID-19 syndrome, also termed long COVID, and might affect one-third of highly symptomatic patients with COVID-19. The effects of CVAD can be seen at both the whole-body level, with impairment of heart rate and blood pressure control, and in specific body regions, typically manifesting as microvascular dysfunction. Many severely affected patients with long COVID meet the diagnostic criteria for two common presentations of CVAD: postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome and inappropriate sinus tachycardia. CVAD can also manifest as disorders associated with hypotension, such as orthostatic or postprandial hypotension, and recurrent reflex syncope. Advances in research, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, have identified new potential pathophysiological mechanisms, diagnostic methods and therapeutic targets in CVAD. For clinicians who daily see patients with CVAD, knowledge of its symptomatology, detection and appropriate management is more important than ever. In this Review, we define CVAD and its major forms that are encountered in post-COVID-19 syndrome, describe possible CVAD aetiologies, and discuss how CVAD, as a component of post-COVID-19 syndrome, can be diagnosed and managed. Moreover, we outline directions for future research to discover more efficient ways to cope with this prevalent and long-lasting condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Artur Fedorowski
- Department of Cardiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden.
| | | | - Satish R Raj
- Department of Cardiac Sciences, Libin Cardiovascular Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Autonomic Dysfunction Center, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Robert Sheldon
- Department of Cardiac Sciences, Libin Cardiovascular Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Cyndya A Shibao
- Autonomic Dysfunction Center, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Richard Sutton
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
- Department of Cardiology, Hammersmith Hospital, National Heart & Lung Institute, Imperial College, London, UK
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Baroody FM, Gevaert P, Smith PK, Ziaie N, Bernstein JA. Nonallergic Rhinopathy: A Comprehensive Review of Classification, Diagnosis, and Treatment. THE JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY. IN PRACTICE 2024; 12:1436-1447. [PMID: 38467330 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaip.2024.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Chronic nonallergic rhinitis syndromes encompass various conditions, of which vasomotor rhinitis is the most common form, representing approximately 80% of patients, also referred to as nonallergic rhinopathy (NAR), nasal hyperreactivity, neurogenic rhinitis, or idiopathic rhinitis. Expert panels have recommended replacing vasomotor rhinitis terminology because it is more descriptive of this condition that is characterized by symptoms triggered by chemical irritants and weather changes through chemosensors, mechanosensors, thermosensors, and/or osmosensors activated through different transient receptor potential calcium ion channels. Elucidating the specific role of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1, triggered by capsaicin, has been an important advancement in better understanding the pathophysiology of NAR because it has now been shown that downregulation of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 receptors by several therapeutic compounds provides symptomatic relief for this condition. The classification of NAR is further complicated by its association with allergic rhinitis referred to as mixed rhinitis, which involves both immunoglobulin E-mediated and neurogenic mechanistic pathways. Comorbidities associated with NAR, including rhinosinusitis, headaches, asthma, chronic cough, and sleep disturbances, underscore the need for comprehensive management. Treatment options for NAR include environmental interventions, pharmacotherapy, and in refractory cases, surgical options, emphasizing the need for a tailored approach for each patient. Thus, it is extremely important to accurately diagnose NAR because inappropriate therapies lead to poor clinical outcomes and unnecessary health care and economic burdens for these patients. This review provides a comprehensive overview of NAR subtypes, focusing on classification, diagnosis, and treatment approaches for NAR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuad M Baroody
- Section of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago, Ill
| | - Philippe Gevaert
- Upper Airways Research Laboratory, Department of Head and Skin, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Peter K Smith
- Department of Surgery-Otolaryngology-Head and Neck, School of Medicine, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, Australia
| | - Navid Ziaie
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Jonathan A Bernstein
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio.
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9
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D’Anna SE, Vitale AM, D’Amico G, Caruso Bavisotto C, Ambrosino P, Cappello F, Maniscalco M, Marino Gammazza A. Autoimmunity against Nucleus Ambiguous Is Putatively Possible in Both Long-COVID-19 and Vaccinated Subjects: Scientific Evidence and Working Hypothesis. BIOLOGY 2024; 13:359. [PMID: 38927239 PMCID: PMC11200469 DOI: 10.3390/biology13060359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2024] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
As reported by the World Health Organization (WHO), about 10-20% of people have experienced mid- to long-term effects following SARS-CoV-2 infection, collectively referred to as post-COVID-19 condition or long-COVID, including some neurovegetative symptoms. Numerous findings have suggested that the onset of these neurovegetative symptoms upon viral infection may be caused by the production of autoantibodies through molecular mimicry phenomena. Accordingly, we had previously demonstrated that 22 of the human proteins sharing putatively immunogenic peptides with SARS-CoV-2 proteins are expressed in the dorsal motor nucleus and nucleus ambiguous. Therefore, if molecular mimicry occurs following severe forms of COVID-19, there could be transitory or permanent damage in some vagal structures, resulting in a lower vagal tone and all the related clinical signs. We investigated the presence of autoantibodies against two proteins of vagal nuclei sharing a peptide with SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein using an immunoassay test on blood obtained from patients with cardiorespiratory symptoms in patients affected by ongoing symptomatic COVID-19 (long-COVID), subjects vaccinated without a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and subjects not vaccinated without a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Interestingly, putative autoantibodies were present in both long-COVID-19 and vaccinated groups, opening interesting questions about pathogenic mechanisms of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alessandra Maria Vitale
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (BIND), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (A.M.V.); (G.D.); (C.C.B.); (F.C.)
| | - Giuseppa D’Amico
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (BIND), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (A.M.V.); (G.D.); (C.C.B.); (F.C.)
| | - Celeste Caruso Bavisotto
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (BIND), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (A.M.V.); (G.D.); (C.C.B.); (F.C.)
- Euro-Mediterranean Institute of Science and Technology (IEMEST), 90139 Palermo, Italy
| | - Pasquale Ambrosino
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (S.E.D.); (P.A.)
| | - Francesco Cappello
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (BIND), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (A.M.V.); (G.D.); (C.C.B.); (F.C.)
- Euro-Mediterranean Institute of Science and Technology (IEMEST), 90139 Palermo, Italy
- National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), Piazza Marina 61, 90133 Palermo, Italy
| | - Mauro Maniscalco
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (S.E.D.); (P.A.)
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Antonella Marino Gammazza
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (BIND), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (A.M.V.); (G.D.); (C.C.B.); (F.C.)
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10
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Canderan G, Muehling LM, Kadl A, Ladd S, Bonham C, Cross CE, Lima SM, Yin X, Sturek JM, Wilson JM, Keshavarz B, Bryant N, Murphy DD, Cheon IS, McNamara CA, Sun J, Utz PJ, Dolatshahi S, Irish JM, Woodfolk JA. Distinct Type 1 Immune Networks Underlie the Severity of Restrictive Lung Disease after COVID-19. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.03.587929. [PMID: 38617217 PMCID: PMC11014603 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.03.587929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
The variable etiology of persistent breathlessness after COVID-19 have confounded efforts to decipher the immunopathology of lung sequelae. Here, we analyzed hundreds of cellular and molecular features in the context of discrete pulmonary phenotypes to define the systemic immune landscape of post-COVID lung disease. Cluster analysis of lung physiology measures highlighted two phenotypes of restrictive lung disease that differed by their impaired diffusion and severity of fibrosis. Machine learning revealed marked CCR5+CD95+ CD8+ T-cell perturbations in mild-to-moderate lung disease, but attenuated T-cell responses hallmarked by elevated CXCL13 in more severe disease. Distinct sets of cells, mediators, and autoantibodies distinguished each restrictive phenotype, and differed from those of patients without significant lung involvement. These differences were reflected in divergent T-cell-based type 1 networks according to severity of lung disease. Our findings, which provide an immunological basis for active lung injury versus advanced disease after COVID-19, might offer new targets for treatment.
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11
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Kuryłowicz A, Babicki M, Wąsowski M, Jankowski P, Kapusta J, Chudzik M. Triglicerydes/high-density lipoprotein ratio as a risk factor of post-Covid-19 sinus tachycardia: A retrospective study. J Med Virol 2024; 96:e29586. [PMID: 38587173 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.29586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Inappropriate sinus tachycardia (IST) is one of the manifestations of the post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS), which pathogenesis remains largely unknown. This study aimed to identify potential risk factors for IST in individuals with PCS. The 1349 patients with PCS were included into the study. Clinical examination, 24H Holter ECG, 24H ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and biochemical tests were performed 12-16 weeks after the COVID-19 in all participants. IST was found in 69 (3.5%) individuals. In the clinical assessment IST patients were characterized by a higher age (p < 0.001) and lower prevalence of the diagnosed hypertension (p = 0.012), compared to remaining patients. Biochemical testing showed higher serum triglycerides (1.66 vs. 1.31 pmol/L, p = 0.007) and higher prevalence of a low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (24.6% vs. 15.2%, p = 0.035) in the IST group. Subsequently, the triglicerydes (TG)/HDL ratio, an indicator of insulin resistance, was significantly higher in the IST individuals (3.2 vs. 2.4, p = 0.005). 24H monitoring revealed a significantly higher minimum diastolic, maximum systolic and mean arterial blood pressure values in the IST group (p < 0.001 for all), suggesting a high prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension. A multivariate analysis confirmed the predictive value TG/HDL ratio >3 (OR 2.67, p < 0.001) as predictors of IST development. A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis of the relationship between the TG/HDL ratio and the IST risk showed that the predictive cut-off point for this parameter was 2.46 (area under the ROC curve = 0.600, p = 0.004). Based on these findings, one can conclude that insulin resistance seems to be a risk factor of IST, a common component of PCS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alina Kuryłowicz
- Department of Internal Medicine and Geriatric Cardiology, Medical Centre for Postgraduate Education, Warsaw, Poland
- Department of Human Epigenetics, Mossakowski Medical Science Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Mateusz Babicki
- Department of Family Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Michał Wąsowski
- Department of Internal Medicine and Geriatric Cardiology, Medical Centre for Postgraduate Education, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Piotr Jankowski
- Department of Internal Medicine and Geriatric Cardiology, Medical Centre for Postgraduate Education, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Joanna Kapusta
- Department of Internal Diseases, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Michał Chudzik
- Department of Internal Medicine and Geriatric Cardiology, Medical Centre for Postgraduate Education, Warsaw, Poland
- Department of Nephrology, Hypertension and Family Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
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12
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Tryfonos A, Pourhamidi K, Jörnåker G, Engvall M, Eriksson L, Elhallos S, Asplund N, Mandić M, Sundblad P, Sepic A, Rullman E, Hyllienmark L, Rundqvist H, Lundberg TR, Gustafsson T. Functional Limitations and Exercise Intolerance in Patients With Post-COVID Condition: A Randomized Crossover Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open 2024; 7:e244386. [PMID: 38573638 PMCID: PMC11192186 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.4386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Importance Many patients with post-COVID condition (PCC) experience persistent fatigue, muscle pain, and cognitive problems that worsen after exertion (referred to as postexertional malaise). Recommendations currently advise against exercise in this population to prevent symptom worsening; however, prolonged inactivity is associated with risk of long-term health deterioration. Objective To assess postexertional symptoms in patients with PCC after exercise compared with control participants and to comprehensively investigate the physiologic mechanisms underlying PCC. Design, Setting, and Participants In this randomized crossover clinical trial, nonhospitalized patients without concomitant diseases and with persistent (≥3 months) symptoms, including postexertional malaise, after SARS-CoV-2 infection were recruited in Sweden from September 2022 to July 2023. Age- and sex-matched control participants were also recruited. Interventions After comprehensive physiologic characterization, participants completed 3 exercise trials (high-intensity interval training [HIIT], moderate-intensity continuous training [MICT], and strength training [ST]) in a randomized order. Symptoms were reported at baseline, immediately after exercise, and 48 hours after exercise. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was between-group differences in changes in fatigue symptoms from baseline to 48 hours after exercise, assessed via the visual analog scale (VAS). Questionnaires, cardiopulmonary exercise testing, inflammatory markers, and physiologic characterization provided information on the physiologic function of patients with PCC. Results Thirty-one patients with PCC (mean [SD] age, 46.6 [10.0] years; 24 [77%] women) and 31 healthy control participants (mean [SD] age, 47.3 [8.9] years; 23 [74%] women) were included. Patients with PCC reported more symptoms than controls at all time points. However, there was no difference between the groups in the worsening of fatigue in response to the different exercises (mean [SD] VAS ranks for HIIT: PCC, 29.3 [19.5]; controls, 28.7 [11.4]; P = .08; MICT: PCC, 31.2 [17.0]; controls, 24.6 [11.7]; P = .09; ST: PCC, 31.0 [19.7]; controls, 28.1 [12.2]; P = .49). Patients with PCC had greater exacerbation of muscle pain after HIIT (mean [SD] VAS ranks, 33.4 [17.7] vs 25.0 [11.3]; P = .04) and reported more concentration difficulties after MICT (mean [SD] VAS ranks, 33.0 [17.1] vs 23.3 [10.6]; P = .03) compared with controls. At baseline, patients with PCC showed preserved lung and heart function but had a 21% lower peak volume of oxygen consumption (mean difference: -6.8 mL/kg/min; 95% CI, -10.7 to -2.9 mL/kg/min; P < .001) and less isometric knee extension muscle strength (mean difference: -37 Nm; 95% CI, -67 to -7 Nm; P = .02) compared with controls. Patients with PCC spent 43% less time on moderate to vigorous physical activity (mean difference, -26.5 minutes/d; 95% CI, -42.0 to -11.1 minutes/d; P = .001). Of note, 4 patients with PCC (13%) had postural orthostatic tachycardia, and 18 of 29 (62%) showed signs of myopathy as determined by neurophysiologic testing. Conclusions and Relevance In this study, nonhospitalized patients with PCC generally tolerated exercise with preserved cardiovascular function but showed lower aerobic capacity and less muscle strength than the control group. They also showed signs of postural orthostatic tachycardia and myopathy. The findings suggest cautious exercise adoption could be recommended to prevent further skeletal muscle deconditioning and health impairment in patients with PCC. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05445830.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Tryfonos
- Division of Clinical Physiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Sciences, European University Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Kaveh Pourhamidi
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Gustav Jörnåker
- Division of Clinical Physiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Martin Engvall
- Division of Clinical Physiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Unit of Clinical Physiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lisa Eriksson
- Division of Clinical Physiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sara Elhallos
- Division of Clinical Physiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Nicole Asplund
- Division of Clinical Physiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mirko Mandić
- Division of Clinical Physiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Patrik Sundblad
- Division of Clinical Physiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Unit of Clinical Physiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Atif Sepic
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Eric Rullman
- Division of Clinical Physiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Unit of Clinical Physiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lars Hyllienmark
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Helene Rundqvist
- Division of Clinical Physiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Unit of Clinical Physiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tommy R. Lundberg
- Division of Clinical Physiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Unit of Clinical Physiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Thomas Gustafsson
- Division of Clinical Physiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Unit of Clinical Physiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
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13
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Lee C, Greenwood DC, Master H, Balasundaram K, Williams P, Scott JT, Wood C, Cooper R, Darbyshire JL, Gonzalez AE, Davies HE, Osborne T, Corrado J, Iftekhar N, Rogers N, Delaney B, Greenhalgh T, Sivan M. Prevalence of orthostatic intolerance in long covid clinic patients and healthy volunteers: A multicenter study. J Med Virol 2024; 96:e29486. [PMID: 38456315 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.29486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Orthostatic intolerance (OI), including postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (PoTS) and orthostatic hypotension (OH), are often reported in long covid, but published studies are small with inconsistent results. We sought to estimate the prevalence of objective OI in patients attending long covid clinics and healthy volunteers and associations with OI symptoms and comorbidities. Participants with a diagnosis of long covid were recruited from eight UK long covid clinics, and healthy volunteers from general population. All undertook standardized National Aeronautics and Space Administration Lean Test (NLT). Participants' history of typical OI symptoms (e.g., dizziness, palpitations) before and during the NLT were recorded. Two hundred seventy-seven long covid patients and 50 frequency-matched healthy volunteers were tested. Healthy volunteers had no history of OI symptoms or symptoms during NLT or PoTS, 10% had asymptomatic OH. One hundred thirty (47%) long covid patients had previous history of OI symptoms and 144 (52%) developed symptoms during the NLT. Forty-one (15%) had an abnormal NLT, 20 (7%) met criteria for PoTS, and 21 (8%) had OH. Of patients with an abnormal NLT, 45% had no prior symptoms of OI. Relaxing the diagnostic thresholds for PoTS from two consecutive abnormal readings to one abnormal reading during the NLT, resulted in 11% of long covid participants (an additional 4%) meeting criteria for PoTS, but not in healthy volunteers. More than half of long covid patients experienced OI symptoms during NLT and more than one in 10 patients met the criteria for either PoTS or OH, half of whom did not report previous typical OI symptoms. We therefore recommend all patients attending long covid clinics are offered an NLT and appropriate management commenced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassie Lee
- Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK
| | | | - Harsha Master
- Covid Assessment and Rehabilitation Service, Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust, Welwyn Garden City, UK
| | - Kumaran Balasundaram
- NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, Respiratory & Infection Theme, Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, UK
| | - Paul Williams
- Covid Assessment and Rehabilitation Service, Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust, Welwyn Garden City, UK
| | - Janet T Scott
- Development and Innovation Department, NHS Highlands, Inverness, UK
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, UK
| | - Conor Wood
- Birmingham Community Healthcare, Birmingham, UK
| | - Rowena Cooper
- Development and Innovation Department, NHS Highlands, Inverness, UK
| | - Julie L Darbyshire
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Helen E Davies
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK
| | - Thomas Osborne
- Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, Leeds, UK
| | - Joanna Corrado
- Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, Leeds, UK
| | - Nafi Iftekhar
- Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, Leeds, UK
| | | | - Brendan Delaney
- Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College, Faculty of Medicine, London, UK
| | - Trish Greenhalgh
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Manoj Sivan
- Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, Leeds, UK
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14
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Hamrefors V, Kahn F, Holmqvist M, Carlson K, Varjus R, Gudjonsson A, Fedorowski A, Ohlsson B. Gut microbiota composition is altered in postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome and post-acute COVID-19 syndrome. Sci Rep 2024; 14:3389. [PMID: 38336892 PMCID: PMC10858216 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53784-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) reflects an autonomic dysfunction, which can occur as a complication to COVID-19. Our aim was to examine gastrointestinal symptoms and gut microbiota composition in patients with POTS and post-acute COVID-19 syndrome (PACS), compared with controls. POTS patients (n = 27), PACS patients (n = 32) and controls (n = 39) delivered fecal samples and completed a 4-day food diary, irritable bowel syndrome-severity scoring system (IBS-SSS), and visual analog scale for IBS (VAS-IBS). A total of 98 DNA aliquots were sequenced to an average depth of 28.3 million (M) read pairs (Illumina 2 × 150 PE) per sample. Diversity and taxonomic levels of the microbiome, as well as functional abundances were calculated for POTS and PACS groups, then compared with controls. There were several differences in taxonomic composition between POTS and controls, whereas only the abundance of Ascomycota and Firmicutes differed between PACS and controls. The clinical variables total IBS-SSS, fatigue, and bloating and flatulence significantly correlated with multiple individual taxa abundances, alpha diversity, and functional abundances. We conclude that POTS, and to a less extent PACS, are associated with differences in gut microbiota composition in diversity and at several taxonomic levels. Clinical symptoms are correlated with both alpha diversity and taxonomic and functional abundances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktor Hamrefors
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden.
- Department of Cardiology, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden.
| | - Fredrik Kahn
- Department of Infection Medicine, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Madlene Holmqvist
- Department of Infection Medicine, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Katherine Carlson
- Department of Infection Medicine, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Roosa Varjus
- Clinical Microbiomics, Symbion, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Artur Fedorowski
- Department of Cardiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Bodil Ohlsson
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
- Department of Internal Medicine, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
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15
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Tan S, Pryor AJG, Melville GW, Fischer O, Hewitt L, Davis KJ. The lingering symptoms of post-COVID-19 condition (long-COVID): a prospective cohort study. Intern Med J 2024; 54:224-233. [PMID: 38008902 DOI: 10.1111/imj.16251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Longer-term symptoms (long COVID) may be present in seemingly recovered patients for several months and can be debilitating. AIM To investigate the prevalence and type of symptoms in those with a prior COVID-19 diagnosis. METHODS This prospective, longitudinal observational study commenced in July 2020 investigating the longer-term health impacts of COVID-19. Participants were recruited via public health units and media publicity. Surveys were completed upon enrolment, and at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. Outcome measures included incidence of activity limitations and symptoms against health and vaccination status, age and gender. RESULTS Overall, 339 participants were recruited. At 3 months after COVID-19, 66.8% reported symptoms, and 44.8% were still experiencing symptoms at 12 months. Fatigue was most common at every point (between 53.1% and 33.1%). Pain symptoms increased in relative prevalence over time, whereas respiratory/pulmonary-type symptoms decreased substantially after 3 months. Females and younger people were more likely to experience symptoms in the early stages of long COVID (P < 0.01) and those with more comorbidities in the latter stages (P < 0.001). Vaccination showed a statistically significant protective effect against symptoms (P < 0.01-0.001). CONCLUSION Long-term COVID-19 symptoms exist among recovered patients up to 12 months after contracting the virus. Fatigue is a primary contributor, while chronic pain became more problematic after 6 months. Vaccination was a factor in preventing long-term symptoms and aiding faster recovery from symptoms. Further work exploring additional contributors to symptom prevalence would assist in developing appropriate follow-up care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart Tan
- Physician in Trauma and Rehabilitation Medicine, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, New South Wales, Australia
- Senior Staff Specialist, Wollongong Hospital, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
- Graduate School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Anna J G Pryor
- Research Central, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Geoffrey W Melville
- Research Central, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
- Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Olivia Fischer
- Research Central, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Lyndel Hewitt
- Research Central, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
- Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Kimberley J Davis
- Graduate School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
- Research Central, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
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16
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Kell DB, Khan MA, Kane B, Lip GYH, Pretorius E. Possible Role of Fibrinaloid Microclots in Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS): Focus on Long COVID. J Pers Med 2024; 14:170. [PMID: 38392604 PMCID: PMC10890060 DOI: 10.3390/jpm14020170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a common accompaniment of a variety of chronic, inflammatory diseases, including long COVID, as are small, insoluble, 'fibrinaloid' microclots. We here develop the argument, with accompanying evidence, that fibrinaloid microclots, through their ability to block the flow of blood through microcapillaries and thus cause tissue hypoxia, are not simply correlated with but in fact, by preceding it, may be a chief intermediary cause of POTS, in which tachycardia is simply the body's exaggerated 'physiological' response to hypoxia. Similar reasoning accounts for the symptoms bundled under the term 'fatigue'. Amyloids are known to be membrane disruptors, and when their targets are nerve membranes, this can explain neurotoxicity and hence the autonomic nervous system dysfunction that contributes to POTS. Taken together as a system view, we indicate that fibrinaloid microclots can serve to link POTS and fatigue in long COVID in a manner that is at once both mechanistic and explanatory. This has clear implications for the treatment of such diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas B Kell
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Systems Biology, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Crown St, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Centre for Biosustainability, Building 220, Chemitorvet 200, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa
| | - Muhammed Asad Khan
- Directorate of Respiratory Medicine, Manchester University Hospitals, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester M23 9LT, UK
| | - Binita Kane
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Systems Biology, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Crown St, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK
- Manchester University Foundation Trust and School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Gregory Y H Lip
- Liverpool Centre for Cardiovascular Science at University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University and Liverpool Heart & Chest Hospital, Liverpool L14 3PE, UK
- Danish Center for Health Services Research, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Etheresia Pretorius
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Systems Biology, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Crown St, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa
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17
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Lai Z, Pu T, Li J, Bai F, Wu L, Tang Y. Visual analysis of hotspots and trends in long COVID research based on bibliometric. Heliyon 2024; 10:e24053. [PMID: 38293444 PMCID: PMC10827472 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
After severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, a series of symptoms may persist for a long time, which is now called long COVID. It was found that long COVID can affect all patients with COVID-19. Therefore, long COVID has become a hot topic. In this study, we used the WOS database as a sample data source to conduct a bibliometric and visual analysis of 1765 long COVID articles over the past three years through VOSviewer and R package. The results show that countries/authors in Europe and The United States of America contribute most of the articles, and their cooperation is also the most active. Keyword co-occurrence identified four clusters, with important topics including the mechanism, clinical symptoms, epidemiological characteristics, and management/treatment of long COVID. Themes such as "cognitive impairment", "endothelial dysfunction", "diagnosis", and "biomarkers" are likely to be the focus of new attention in the coming period. In addition, we put forward the possible research opportunities on long COVID for researchers and practitioners to facilitate future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zongqiang Lai
- The Pharmaceutical Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, PR China
| | - Tao Pu
- Department of Adolescent Gynecology, Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Jun Li
- The Pharmaceutical Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, PR China
| | - Facheng Bai
- The Pharmaceutical Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, PR China
| | - Lining Wu
- The Pharmaceutical Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, PR China
| | - Yunxia Tang
- The Pharmaceutical Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, PR China
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18
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Östlind E, Ekstrand E, Axén I, Brogårdh C, Fänge AM, Stigmar K, Ekvall Hansson E. Dizziness-related disability in persons with post-COVID condition: A cross sectional study. J Vestib Res 2024; 34:185-193. [PMID: 38788105 DOI: 10.3233/ves-230064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dizziness is a common symptom in post-COVID condition (PCC) which may have a large impact on several life domains. However, knowledge on dizziness-severity and disability in PCC is sparse. OBJECTIVE The aim was to describe the severity of dizziness-related disability in individuals with PCC, and how it is manifested in daily life. METHODS A questionnaire regarding symptoms of PCC, health, and dizziness-related handicap was administered online, and 524 persons with PCC and dizziness were included. RESULTS Mean score of the Dizziness Handicap Inventory was 35.2 (24.0) and 51.8%, were classified as having moderate/severe dizziness-related disability. The percentage of maximum value for the subscales were: Physical manifestation, 48%, Emotional Impact, 36% and Catastrophic Impact, 17%. The greatest influence on physical movements was when bending forward, head shaking or doing strenuous physical activities or household chores. CONCLUSIONS Half had moderate or severe dizziness-related disability and the physical manifestations occurred mostly during specific or strenuous body movements. This indicate a vestibular impairment that may be effectively managed with vestibular rehabilitation. Assessment and treatment of dizziness might be an essential part in PCC rehabilitation and future research should continue to explore the potential causal pathways of dizziness in PCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elin Östlind
- Department of Health Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Dalby Healthcare Center, Dalby, Sweden
| | - Elisabeth Ekstrand
- Department of Health Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Department of Hand Surgery, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Iben Axén
- Unit of Intervention and Implementation Research for Worker Health, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Christina Brogårdh
- Department of Health Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Department of Neurology, Rehabilitation Medicine, Memory Disorders and Geriatrics, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | | | | | - Eva Ekvall Hansson
- Department of Health Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Ear-Nose and Throat Department, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
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19
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Hulsey B. Recognizing postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome in primary care. JAAPA 2023; 36:14-19. [PMID: 37943688 DOI: 10.1097/01.jaa.0000991396.00397.be] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a complex autonomic disorder characterized by abnormal tachycardia on standing. This disorder predominantly affects young women, with a peak incidence between ages 20 and 30 years. POTS often is associated with a variety of symptoms, including dizziness, palpitations, fatigue, generalized weakness, anxiety, and exercise intolerance, which can significantly impair patient quality of life. Primary care providers (PCPs) often are the first healthcare professionals to whom patients present. This article provides an overview of POTS, including diagnostic criteria and the importance of a thorough clinical evaluation to rule out other causes of symptoms. PCPs play a critical role in the comprehensive approach to care, involving patient education, lifestyle modifications, and treatment to improve outcomes and enhance patient quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittney Hulsey
- Brittney Hulsey is an assistant professor at A.T. Still University in Mesa, Ariz., and practices at Village Medical in Gilbert, Ariz. The author has disclosed no potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise
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20
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Li J, Zhou Y, Ma J, Zhang Q, Shao J, Liang S, Yu Y, Li W, Wang C. The long-term health outcomes, pathophysiological mechanisms and multidisciplinary management of long COVID. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:416. [PMID: 37907497 PMCID: PMC10618229 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01640-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
There have been hundreds of millions of cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). With the growing population of recovered patients, it is crucial to understand the long-term consequences of the disease and management strategies. Although COVID-19 was initially considered an acute respiratory illness, recent evidence suggests that manifestations including but not limited to those of the cardiovascular, respiratory, neuropsychiatric, gastrointestinal, reproductive, and musculoskeletal systems may persist long after the acute phase. These persistent manifestations, also referred to as long COVID, could impact all patients with COVID-19 across the full spectrum of illness severity. Herein, we comprehensively review the current literature on long COVID, highlighting its epidemiological understanding, the impact of vaccinations, organ-specific sequelae, pathophysiological mechanisms, and multidisciplinary management strategies. In addition, the impact of psychological and psychosomatic factors is also underscored. Despite these crucial findings on long COVID, the current diagnostic and therapeutic strategies based on previous experience and pilot studies remain inadequate, and well-designed clinical trials should be prioritized to validate existing hypotheses. Thus, we propose the primary challenges concerning biological knowledge gaps and efficient remedies as well as discuss the corresponding recommendations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingwei Li
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity, Med-X Center for Manufacturing, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yun Zhou
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity, Med-X Center for Manufacturing, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jiechao Ma
- AI Lab, Deepwise Healthcare, Beijing, China
| | - Qin Zhang
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity, Med-X Center for Manufacturing, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Department of Postgraduate Student, West China Hospital, West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jun Shao
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity, Med-X Center for Manufacturing, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Shufan Liang
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity, Med-X Center for Manufacturing, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yizhou Yu
- Department of Computer Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Weimin Li
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity, Med-X Center for Manufacturing, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
| | - Chengdi Wang
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity, Med-X Center for Manufacturing, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
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21
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Visca D, Centis R, Pontali E, Zampogna E, Russell AM, Migliori GB, Andrejak C, Aro M, Bayram H, Berkani K, Bruchfeld J, Chakaya JM, Chorostowska-Wynimko J, Crestani B, Dalcolmo MP, D'Ambrosio L, Dinh-Xuan AT, Duong-Quy S, Fernandes C, García-García JM, de Melo Kawassaki A, Carrozzi L, Martinez-Garcia MA, Martins PC, Mirsaeidi M, Mohammad Y, Naidoo RN, Neuparth N, Sese L, Silva DR, Solovic I, Sooronbaev TM, Spanevello A, Sverzellati N, Tanno L, Tiberi S, Vasankari T, Vasarmidi E, Vitacca M, Annesi-Maesano I. Clinical standards for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of post-COVID-19 lung disease. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 2023; 27:729-741. [PMID: 37749839 PMCID: PMC10519381 DOI: 10.5588/ijtld.23.0248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The aim of these clinical standards is to provide guidance on 'best practice' care for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of post-COVID-19 lung disease.METHODS: A panel of international experts representing scientific societies, associations and groups active in post-COVID-19 lung disease was identified; 45 completed a Delphi process. A 5-point Likert scale indicated level of agreement with the draft standards. The final version was approved by consensus (with 100% agreement).RESULTS: Four clinical standards were agreed for patients with a previous history of COVID-19: Standard 1, Patients with sequelae not explained by an alternative diagnosis should be evaluated for possible post-COVID-19 lung disease; Standard 2, Patients with lung function impairment, reduced exercise tolerance, reduced quality of life (QoL) or other relevant signs or ongoing symptoms ≥4 weeks after the onset of first symptoms should be evaluated for treatment and pulmonary rehabilitation (PR); Standard 3, The PR programme should be based on feasibility, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness criteria, organised according to local health services and tailored to an individual patient's needs; and Standard 4, Each patient undergoing and completing PR should be evaluated to determine its effectiveness and have access to a counselling/health education session.CONCLUSION: This is the first consensus-based set of clinical standards for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of post-COVID-19 lung disease. Our aim is to improve patient care and QoL by guiding clinicians, programme managers and public health officers in planning and implementing a PR programme to manage post-COVID-19 lung disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Visca
- Division of Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Istituti Clinici Scientifici (ICS) Maugeri, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Tradate, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Respiratory Diseases, University of Insubria, Varese
| | - R Centis
- Respiratory Diseases Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri, IRCCS, Tradate
| | - E Pontali
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Galliera Hospital, Genoa, Italy
| | - E Zampogna
- Division of Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Istituti Clinici Scientifici (ICS) Maugeri, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Tradate
| | - A-M Russell
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, Royal Devon University Hospitals NHS Trust, Exeter, North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol, UK
| | - G B Migliori
- Respiratory Diseases Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri, IRCCS, Tradate
| | - C Andrejak
- Respiratory Department, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Amiens Picardie, Amiens, Unité de Recherche 4294, Agents Infectieux, Résistance et Chimiothérapie, Picardie Jules Verne University, Amiens, GREPI (Group pour la Recherche et enseignement en pneumo-infectiologie) Work group of French society of respiratory diseases, Paris, France
| | - M Aro
- Finnish Lung Health Association (FILHA), Helsinki, Finland
| | - H Bayram
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Koc University Research Center for Translational Medicine, Koc University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - K Berkani
- Pierre de Soleil Clinic, Respiratory Rehabilitation, Vetraz Monthoux, France
| | - J Bruchfeld
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - J M Chakaya
- Department of Medicine, Therapeutics and Dermatology, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya, Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - J Chorostowska-Wynimko
- Department of Genetics and Clinical Immunology, National Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases, Warsaw, Poland
| | - B Crestani
- Université Paris Cité, Physiopathologie et épidémiologie des maladies respiratoires, Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (INSERM), Paris, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris (APHP), Hôpital Bichat, Service de Pneumologie A, FHU APOLLO, Paris, France
| | - M P Dalcolmo
- Hélio Fraga Reference Center, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - L D'Ambrosio
- Public Health Consulting Group, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - A-T Dinh-Xuan
- Service de Physiologie-Explorations Fonctionnelles, APHP, Hôpital Cochin, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - S Duong-Quy
- Respiratory Department, Lam Dong Medical College, Dalat, Vietnam
| | - C Fernandes
- Heart Institute, Cardio-pulmonology Department, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - J-M García-García
- Tuberculosis Research Programme (PII-TB), Sociedad Española de Neumología y Cirugía Torácica, Barcelona, Spain
| | - A de Melo Kawassaki
- Serviço de Pneumologia, Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo (ICESP) e do ambulatÓrio de Doenças Pulmonares Intersticiais, Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - L Carrozzi
- Department of Surgical, Medical, and Molecular Pathology and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Pulmonary Unit, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Department, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - M A Martinez-Garcia
- Respiratory Department, University and Polytechnic La Fe Hospital, Valencia, Centro de InvestigaciÓn Biomédica en Red, Respiratory Disorders, Madrid, Spain
| | - P Carreiro Martins
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Department, Dona Estefânia Hospital, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Lisboa Central, Lisbon, NOVA Medical School-Comprehensive Health Research Center, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - M Mirsaeidi
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, University of Florida, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Y Mohammad
- Al Sham private University, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Damascus and Latakia, Centre for Research on Chronic Respiratory Diseases, Tishreen University, Lattakia, Syria
| | - R N Naidoo
- Discipline of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - N Neuparth
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Department, Dona Estefânia Hospital, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Lisboa Central, Lisbon, NOVA Medical School-Comprehensive Health Research Center, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - L Sese
- Department of Physiology and Functional Explorations, Hôpital Avicenne, INSERM, Unité mixte de recherche 1272 Hypoxia and the Lung, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Bobigny, Department of Pneumology, Centre Constitutif de référence des maladies pulmonaires rares, Hôpital Avicenne, Bobigny, France
| | - D R Silva
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil
| | - I Solovic
- National Institute for TB, Lund Diseases and Thoracic Surgery, Vysne Hagy, Catholic University, Ruzomberok, Slovakia
| | - T M Sooronbaev
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Center for Cardiology and Internal Medicine, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
| | - A Spanevello
- Division of Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Istituti Clinici Scientifici (ICS) Maugeri, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Tradate, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Respiratory Diseases, University of Insubria, Varese
| | - N Sverzellati
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - L Tanno
- Institut Desbrest of Epidemiology and Santé Publique, INSERM & Montpellier University, Montpellier and Department of Allergic and Respiratory Diseases, Montpellier University Hospital, Montpellier, France
| | - S Tiberi
- Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - T Vasankari
- FILHA, Helsinki, University of Turku, Department of Pulmonary Diseases and Clinical Allergology, Turku, Finland
| | - E Vasarmidi
- Department of Respiratory Medicine and Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Pneumonology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
| | - M Vitacca
- ICS Maugeri IRCCS, Respiratory Rehabilitation of the Institute of Lumezzane, Brescia, Italy
| | - I Annesi-Maesano
- Institut Desbrest of Epidemiology and Santé Publique, INSERM & Montpellier University, Montpellier and Department of Allergic and Respiratory Diseases, Montpellier University Hospital, Montpellier, France
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22
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Woo MS, Shafiq M, Fitzek A, Dottermusch M, Altmeppen H, Mohammadi B, Mayer C, Bal LC, Raich L, Matschke J, Krasemann S, Pfefferle S, Brehm TT, Lütgehetmann M, Schädler J, Addo MM, Schulze Zur Wiesch J, Ondruschka B, Friese MA, Glatzel M. Vagus nerve inflammation contributes to dysautonomia in COVID-19. Acta Neuropathol 2023; 146:387-394. [PMID: 37452829 PMCID: PMC10412500 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-023-02612-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Dysautonomia has substantially impacted acute COVID-19 severity as well as symptom burden after recovery from COVID-19 (long COVID), yet the underlying causes remain unknown. Here, we hypothesized that vagus nerves are affected in COVID-19 which might contribute to autonomic dysfunction. We performed a histopathological characterization of postmortem vagus nerves from COVID-19 patients and controls, and detected SARS-CoV-2 RNA together with inflammatory cell infiltration composed primarily of monocytes. Furthermore, we performed RNA sequencing which revealed a strong inflammatory response of neurons, endothelial cells, and Schwann cells which correlated with SARS-CoV-2 RNA load. Lastly, we screened a clinical cohort of 323 patients to detect a clinical phenotype of vagus nerve affection and found a decreased respiratory rate in non-survivors of critical COVID-19. Our data suggest that SARS-CoV-2 induces vagus nerve inflammation followed by autonomic dysfunction which contributes to critical disease courses and might contribute to dysautonomia observed in long COVID.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcel S Woo
- Institute of Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Mohsin Shafiq
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Antonia Fitzek
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Matthias Dottermusch
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Hermann Altmeppen
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Behnam Mohammadi
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christina Mayer
- Institute of Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Lukas C Bal
- Institute of Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Lukas Raich
- Institute of Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jakob Matschke
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Susanne Krasemann
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Susanne Pfefferle
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Theo Brehm
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, Hamburg, Germany
- I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Marc Lütgehetmann
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Julia Schädler
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Marylyn M Addo
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, Hamburg, Germany
- I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Institute for Infection Research and Vaccine Development (IIRVD), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Julian Schulze Zur Wiesch
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, Hamburg, Germany
- I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Benjamin Ondruschka
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Manuel A Friese
- Institute of Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Markus Glatzel
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
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23
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Gómez-Moyano E, Rodríguez-Capitán J, Gaitán Román D, Reyes Bueno JA, Villalobos Sánchez A, Espíldora Hernández F, González Angulo GE, Molina Mora MJ, Thurnhofer-Hemsi K, Molina-Ramos AI, Romero-Cuevas M, Jiménez-Navarro M, Pavón-Morón FJ. Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome and other related dysautonomic disorders after SARS-CoV-2 infection and after COVID-19 messenger RNA vaccination. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1221518. [PMID: 37654428 PMCID: PMC10467287 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1221518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a challenge for our society due to the post-acute sequelae of the disease. Persistent symptoms and long-term multiorgan complications, known as post-acute COVID-19 syndrome, can occur beyond 4 weeks from the onset of the COVID-19 infection. Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is considered a variety of dysautonomia, which is characterized by chronic symptoms that occur with standing and a sustained increase in heart rate, without orthostatic hypotension. POTS can lead to debilitating symptoms, significant disability, and impaired quality of life. In this narrative review, the etiopathogenic basis, epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and socioeconomic impact of POTS, as well as other related dysautonomic disorders, after COVID-19 infection and SARS-CoV-2 postvaccination, were discussed. After a search conducted in March 2023, a total of 89 relevant articles were selected from the PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science databases. The review highlights the importance of recognizing and managing POTS after COVID-19 infection and vaccination, and the approach to autonomic disorders should be known by all specialists in different medical areas. The diagnosis of POTS requires a comprehensive clinical assessment, including a detailed medical history, physical examination, orthostatic vital signs, and autonomic function tests. The treatment of POTS after COVID-19 infection or vaccination is mainly focused on lifestyle modifications, such as increased fluid and salt intake, exercise, and graduated compression stockings. Pharmacotherapy, such as beta-blockers, fludrocortisone, midodrine, and ivabradine, may also be used in selected cases. Further research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms, risk factors, and optimal treatment strategies for this complication.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jorge Rodríguez-Capitán
- Centro de Investigación en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), IBIMA-Plataforma BIONAND, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
- Department of Cardiology, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Victoria, Málaga, Spain
| | - Daniel Gaitán Román
- Department of Cardiology, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Karl Thurnhofer-Hemsi
- Centro de Investigación en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), IBIMA-Plataforma BIONAND, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
- Department of Computer Languages and Computer Sciences, University of Malaga, Málaga, Spain
| | - Ana Isabel Molina-Ramos
- Centro de Investigación en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), IBIMA-Plataforma BIONAND, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
- Department of Cardiology, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Victoria, Málaga, Spain
| | - Miguel Romero-Cuevas
- Centro de Investigación en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), IBIMA-Plataforma BIONAND, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
- Department of Cardiology, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Victoria, Málaga, Spain
| | - Manuel Jiménez-Navarro
- Centro de Investigación en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), IBIMA-Plataforma BIONAND, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
- Department of Cardiology, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Victoria, Málaga, Spain
- Department of Medicine and Dermatology, University of Malaga, Málaga, Spain
| | - Francisco Javier Pavón-Morón
- Centro de Investigación en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), IBIMA-Plataforma BIONAND, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
- Department of Cardiology, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Victoria, Málaga, Spain
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24
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Chahal CAA, Siripanthong B. The Risk of Cardiovascular Sequelae in Post-Acute COVID-19: Comorbidity or COVID? JACC. ADVANCES 2023; 2:100455. [PMID: 38939436 PMCID: PMC11198207 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacadv.2023.100455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- C. Anwar A. Chahal
- Center for Inherited Cardiovascular Diseases, WellSpan Health, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA
- Barts Heart Centre, St Bartholomew’s Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, West Smithfield, United Kingdom
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Bhurint Siripanthong
- Royal Sussex County Hospital, University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, Brighton, United Kingdom
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25
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Abbate G, De Iulio B, Thomas G, Priday A, Biondi-Zoccai G, Markley R, Abbate A. Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome After COVID-19: A Systematic Review of Therapeutic Interventions. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol 2023; 82:23-31. [PMID: 37094584 DOI: 10.1097/fjc.0000000000001432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a clinical syndrome of inappropriate increase in heart rate on standing that has been recently also associated with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) as part of the postacute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) or long-COVID. We herein aimed to systematically review reported cases of POTS after COVID-19 and determine the characteristics of the subjects, the diagnostic approach used, and the treatment strategies. We searched the literature according to the following criteria: (1) diagnosis of POTS according to standard definition; (2) timely association with a probable or definite diagnosis of COVID-19; and (3) a description of the individual subject(s). We identified 21 reports meeting criteria between March 2020 and September 2022, including 68 subjects (51 females and 17 males, 3:1 ratio) with a mean age of 34 ± 12 years, with reports deriving from the United States, Norway, Sweden, Israel, Ireland, United Kingdom, Singapore, and Japan. Most cases had mild COVID-19 symptoms. The most common POTS symptoms were palpitations, chest pain, lightheadedness, and debilitating fatigue. The diagnosis was established by means of head-up tilt table or active stand test. Nonpharmacologic treatments (fluids, sodium intake, and compression stockings) were virtually always used, but largely ineffective. Subjects received different treatments, the most common being beta-adrenergic blockers (ie, propranolol), mineral corticosteroids (ie, fludrocortisone), midodrine, and ivabradine. Symptoms tended to improve over time, but most patients remained symptomatic for several months. In conclusion, POTS after COVID-19 is a clinical condition affecting young individuals, and disproportionately young women, occurring as part of PASC-long-COVID, often debilitating, which can be easily diagnosed with a thorough clinical assessment and measuring changes in orthostatic heart rate and blood pressure. POTS after COVID-19 seems to be poorly responsive to nonpharmacological treatments but with symptoms improving with pharmacological interventions. Given the limited data available, additional research is urgently needed with respect to its epidemiology, pathophysiology, and treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerardina Abbate
- Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
| | - Beatrice De Iulio
- Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
| | - Georgia Thomas
- Pauley Heart Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
| | - Anna Priday
- Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
| | - Giuseppe Biondi-Zoccai
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Latina, Italy; and
- Mediterranea Cardiocentro, Napoli, Italy
| | - Roshanak Markley
- Pauley Heart Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
| | - Antonio Abbate
- Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
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26
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Tsilingiris D, Vallianou NG, Karampela I, Christodoulatos GS, Papavasileiou G, Petropoulou D, Magkos F, Dalamaga M. Laboratory Findings and Biomarkers in Long COVID: What Do We Know So Far? Insights into Epidemiology, Pathogenesis, Therapeutic Perspectives and Challenges. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10458. [PMID: 37445634 PMCID: PMC10341908 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Long COVID (LC) encompasses a constellation of long-term symptoms experienced by at least 10% of people after the initial SARS-CoV-2 infection, and so far it has affected about 65 million people. The etiology of LC remains unclear; however, many pathophysiological pathways may be involved, including viral persistence; a chronic, low-grade inflammatory response; immune dysregulation and a defective immune response; the reactivation of latent viruses; autoimmunity; persistent endothelial dysfunction and coagulopathy; gut dysbiosis; hormonal and metabolic dysregulation; mitochondrial dysfunction; and autonomic nervous system dysfunction. There are no specific tests for the diagnosis of LC, and clinical features including laboratory findings and biomarkers may not specifically relate to LC. Therefore, it is of paramount importance to develop and validate biomarkers that can be employed for the prediction, diagnosis and prognosis of LC and its therapeutic response, although this effort may be hampered by challenges pertaining to the non-specific nature of the majority of clinical manifestations in the LC spectrum, small sample sizes of relevant studies and other methodological issues. Promising candidate biomarkers that are found in some patients are markers of systemic inflammation, including acute phase proteins, cytokines and chemokines; biomarkers reflecting SARS-CoV-2 persistence, the reactivation of herpesviruses and immune dysregulation; biomarkers of endotheliopathy, coagulation and fibrinolysis; microbiota alterations; diverse proteins and metabolites; hormonal and metabolic biomarkers; and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers. At present, there are only two reviews summarizing relevant biomarkers; however, they do not cover the entire umbrella of current biomarkers, their link to etiopathogenetic mechanisms or the diagnostic work-up in a comprehensive manner. Herein, we aim to appraise and synopsize the available evidence on the typical laboratory manifestations and candidate biomarkers of LC, their classification based on pathogenetic mechanisms and the main LC symptomatology in the frame of the epidemiological and clinical aspects of the syndrome and furthermore assess limitations and challenges as well as potential implications in candidate therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitrios Tsilingiris
- First Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Democritus University of Thrace, Dragana, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece;
| | - Natalia G. Vallianou
- Department of Internal Medicine, Evangelismos General Hospital, 45-47 Ipsilantou Street, 10676 Athens, Greece;
| | - Irene Karampela
- 2nd Department of Critical Care, Medical School, University of Athens, Attikon General University Hospital, 1 Rimini Street, 12462 Athens, Greece;
| | | | - Georgios Papavasileiou
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Street, 11527 Athens, Greece; (G.P.); (D.P.)
| | - Dimitra Petropoulou
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Street, 11527 Athens, Greece; (G.P.); (D.P.)
| | - Faidon Magkos
- Department of Nutrition, Exercise, and Sports, University of Copenhagen, DK-2200 Frederiksberg, Denmark;
| | - Maria Dalamaga
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Street, 11527 Athens, Greece; (G.P.); (D.P.)
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Minhas R, Bharadwaj AS. COVID-19-Induced Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome and Dysautonomia. Cureus 2023; 15:e40235. [PMID: 37435242 PMCID: PMC10332885 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.40235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a disorder characterized by orthostatic intolerance and, by definition, includes clinical symptoms of lightheadedness, palpitations, and tremulousness among others. It is considered a relatively rare condition that affects approximately 0.2% of the general population, and it is estimated that between 500,000 to 1,000,000 individuals in the United States have the condition and recently has been linked to post-infectious (viral) etiologies. We present a case of a 53-year-old woman who was diagnosed with POTS following extensive autoimmune workup, who was also status post-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. The post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction can affect global circulatory control, which describes increased heart rate even at resting states, and local circulatory disorders, such as coronary microvascular disease leading to vasospasm, as described by the patient's chest pain, and venous retention leading to pooling and reduced venous return after standing. Along with tachycardia with orthostatic intolerance, other symptoms can also accompany the syndrome. In the majority of patients, intravascular volume is reduced, leading to decreased venous return to the heart and causing reflex tachycardia and orthostatic intolerance. Management varies from lifestyle modifications to pharmacologic therapy, to which patients generally show a good response. POTS should be a differential on the cards, especially in patients post-COVID-19 infection, as these symptoms can be misdiagnosed as having psychological etiologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Resnah Minhas
- Medicine, American University of Antigua, St. Johns, ATG
| | - Adithya Sateesh Bharadwaj
- Medicine, University of Maryland Midtown Campus, Baltimore, USA
- Medicine, American University of Antigua, St. Johns, ATG
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28
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Low RN, Low RJ, Akrami A. A review of cytokine-based pathophysiology of Long COVID symptoms. Front Med (Lausanne) 2023; 10:1011936. [PMID: 37064029 PMCID: PMC10103649 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1011936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The Long COVID/Post Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) group includes patients with initial mild-to-moderate symptoms during the acute phase of the illness, in whom recovery is prolonged, or new symptoms are developed over months. Here, we propose a description of the pathophysiology of the Long COVID presentation based on inflammatory cytokine cascades and the p38 MAP kinase signaling pathways that regulate cytokine production. In this model, the SARS-CoV-2 viral infection is hypothesized to trigger a dysregulated peripheral immune system activation with subsequent cytokine release. Chronic low-grade inflammation leads to dysregulated brain microglia with an exaggerated release of central cytokines, producing neuroinflammation. Immunothrombosis linked to chronic inflammation with microclot formation leads to decreased tissue perfusion and ischemia. Intermittent fatigue, Post Exertional Malaise (PEM), CNS symptoms with "brain fog," arthralgias, paresthesias, dysautonomia, and GI and ophthalmic problems can consequently arise as result of the elevated peripheral and central cytokines. There are abundant similarities between symptoms in Long COVID and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). DNA polymorphisms and viral-induced epigenetic changes to cytokine gene expression may lead to chronic inflammation in Long COVID patients, predisposing some to develop autoimmunity, which may be the gateway to ME/CFS.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ryan J. Low
- Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Sainsbury Wellcome Centre, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Athena Akrami
- Sainsbury Wellcome Centre, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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29
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Netiazhenko VZ, Mostovyi SE, Safonova OM. The Impact of COVID-19 upon Intracardiac Hemodynamics and Heart Rate Variability in Stable Coronary Artery Disease Patients. UKRAINIAN JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY 2023. [DOI: 10.30702/ujcvs/23.31(01)/nm009-1928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
The aim. To study the impact of COVID-19 upon intracardiac hemodynamics and heart rate variability (HRV) in stable coronary artery disease (SCAD) patients.
Materials and methods. In this cross-sectional study we analyzed clinical and instrumental data obtained from a sample of 80 patients. The patients were divided into three groups: group 1 included patients with SCAD without COVID-19 (n=30), group 2 included patients with SCAD and COVID-19 (n=25), and group 3 included patients with COVID-19 without SCAD (n=25). The control group included 30 relatively healthy volunteers.
Results. The changes in intracardiac hemodynamics and HRV in group 2 were characterized by the impaired left ventricular systolic and diastolic function, dilation of both ventricles and elevated systolic pulmonary artery pressure. Left ventricular end-diastolic volume was higher in group 2 (205±21 ml) than that in group 1 (176±33 ml; р<0.001) and group 3 (130±21 ml; р<0.001). Patients in the groups 1–3, compared to controls, presented with the decrease in the overall HRV (by standard deviation [SD] of all NN intervals [SDNN]; SD of the averages of NN intervals in all 5 min segments of the entire recording; and mean of the SDs of all NN intervals for all 5 min segments of the entire recording) and parasympathetic activity (root-mean-square difference of successive NN intervals; the proportion derived by dividing the number of interval differences of successive NN intervals greater than 50 ms [NN50] by the total number of NN intervals [pNN50], and high frequency spectral component), along with QT interval prolongation and increase in its variability. Group 2 demonstrated the most advanced changes in HRV (by SDNN and pNN50) and both QT interval characteristics.
Conclusions. The patients with SCAD and concomitant COVID-19, along with both ventricles dilation and intracardiac hemodynamics impairment, presented with the sings of autonomic dysfunction, QT interval prolongation and increase in its variability. The heart rate variability and QT interval characteristics should be additionally considered in the management of such patients.
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Van der Feltz-Cornelis CM, Moriarty AS, Strain WD. Neurological Dysfunction in Long COVID Should Not Be Labelled as Functional Neurological Disorder. Viruses 2023; 15:783. [PMID: 36992491 PMCID: PMC10059786 DOI: 10.3390/v15030783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/22/2023] Open
Abstract
There have been suggestions that Long COVID might be purely functional (meaning psychological) in origin. Labelling patients with neurological dysfunction in Long COVID as having functional neurological disorder (FND) in the absence of proper testing may be symptomatic of that line of thought. This practice is problematic for Long COVID patients, as motor and balance symptoms have been reported to occur in Long COVID frequently. FND is characterized by the presentation of symptoms that seem neurological but lack compatibility of the symptom with a neurological substrate. Although diagnostic classification according to the ICD-11 and DSM-5-TR is dependent predominantly on the exclusion of any other medical condition that could account for the symptoms, current neurological practice of FND classification allows for such comorbidity. As a consequence, Long COVID patients with motor and balance symptoms mislabeled as FND have no longer access to Long COVID care, whereas treatment for FND is seldom provided and is ineffective. Research into underlying mechanisms and diagnostic methods should explore how to determine whether motor and balance symptoms currently diagnosed as FND should be considered one part of Long COVID symptoms, in other words, one component of symptomatology, and in which cases they correctly represent FND. Research into rehabilitation models, treatment and integrated care are needed, which should take into account biological underpinnings as well as possible psychological mechanisms and the patient perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrew S. Moriarty
- Department of Health Sciences, Hull York Medical School, (HYMS), University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - William David Strain
- Diabetes and Vascular Medicine Research Centre, Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Science, College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter EX2 5AX, UK
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