Dysautonomia in Patients Post COVID-19 Infection (DYSCO)

Moens Maarten

Status: Unknown

Conditions: Covid19

Treatments: Other: Dysautonomia

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04716465

DYSCO

Details and patient eligibility

About

The aim for this study is further to elucidate the presence of dysautonomia in post-covid-19 patients, by evaluating heart rate variability.

Full description

The COVID-19 pandemic is currently a serious global public health concern. This disease is caused by a novel coronavirus which was first discovered in Wuhan, China in 2019 and later spread rapidly throughout the world. Symptoms of the disease can manifest as fever, cough, encephalitis, myalgia, fatigue, muscle weakness, arthralgia, anosmia, and impairment in other bodily functions in the acute phase. In 17% to 67% of cases, COVID-19 patients will develop acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and critical illness. Besides the impact on the respiratory system, coronaviruses have an effect on other systems including the central nervous system, cardiovascular system, musculoskeletal system, and gastrointestinal system.

Potential long-term secondary effects on the musculoskeletal system such as muscle weakness, decreased muscle mass, and myopathies have been brought under attention. Persisting symptoms in patients recovered from COVID-19 infection are frequently a complaint with at least 1 symptom, particularly fatigue and dyspnea. In recent papers, the authors commented on the potential role of dysautonomia in the post-covid-19 entity related to microangiopathy and endothelial injury. Such lesions were already reported in brain biopsy samples of severe COVID-19.

Therefore, the aim of this study is further to elucidate the presence of dysautonomia in post-covid-19 patients, by evaluating heart rate variability.

Enrollment: 200 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Patients with a diagnosed covid-19 infection that took place 2-8 weeks before study inclusion.
• Cognitive and language functioning enabling coherent communication between the researcher and the participant.
• French-or Dutch speaking persons.

Exclusion criteria

• Covid-19 infection > 8 weeks ago.
• The presence of one or more coexisting conditions known to affect HRV analysis (including but not limited to atrial fibrillation, numerous atrial or ventricular extra beats, paced rhythm, left ventricular bundle branch block, cancer, kidney or hepatic failure, and diabetes mellitus)

Trial design

200 participants in 1 patient group

Covid-19 infected patients

Description:

In this study male and female patients who were previously infected with covid-19 (symptomatic and asymptomatic) will be included. Patients will only be eligible if they had a positive covid-19 test before inclusion in the study. More specifically, only patients who had a positive COVID-19 test 2 to 8 weeks before study inclusion are eligible.

Treatment:

Other: Dysautonomia