poSt Covid-19 Infection centraL sENsitisaTion (SILENT 1)

Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel

Status: Unknown

Conditions: Covid19

Treatments: Other: Indicators of central sensitisation

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04703452

SILENT 1

Details and patient eligibility

About

The aim of this study is to evaluate whether there are indicators of central sensitisation in patients post covid-19 infection.

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.

The term central sensitivity syndrome (CSS) describes a group of medically nonspecific disorders, such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and irritable bowel syndrome, for which central sensitivity might be a common etiology. Despite the lack of a solid outcome measurement, the Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI) was previously introduced as a screening instrument for clinicians to help identify patients with a CSS. Furthermore, quantitative sensory testing can be used to identify and quantify sensory disfunctions by evaluating a variety of parameters including pain thresholds, temporal summation, and conditioned pain modulation (CPM). Previous research in patients with chronic pain resulted in less efficacious CPM, increased nociceptive facilitation and decreased pain thresholds.

In post covid-19 patients, 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 are a frequently reported complaint in patients recovered from COVID-19 infection with at least 1 symptom, particularly fatigue and dyspnea. Fatigue is also one of the core symptoms in central sensitisation disorders, leading to the hypothesis that central sensitisation might be the underlying common etiology in chronic pain patients and patients post COVID-19 infection. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate whether there are indicators of central sensitisation in patients post covid-19 infection.

Enrollment: 100 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Patients with a diagnosed covid-19 infection that took place at least 6 months 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 < 6 months ago.

Trial design

100 participants in 1 patient group

Covid-19 infected patients

Description:

In this study male and female patients who were previously infected with covid-19 will be included. Patients will only be eligible if they had a positive covid-19 test at least 6 months before inclusion in the study.

Treatment:

Other: Indicators of central sensitisation