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Rinaldi L, Rigo S, Pani M, Bisoglio A, Khalaf K, Minonzio M, Shiffer D, Romeo MA, Verzeletti P, Ciccarelli M, Bordoni MG, Stranges S, Riboli E, Furlan R, Barbic F. Long-COVID autonomic syndrome in working age and work ability impairment. Sci Rep 2024; 14:11835. [PMID: 38782998 PMCID: PMC11116376 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61455-y] [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: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Long-COVID19 has been recently associated with long-sick leave and unemployment. The autonomic nervous system functioning may be also affected by SARS-CoV-2, leading to a chronic autonomic syndrome. This latter remains widely unrecognized in clinical practice. In the present study, we assessed the occurrence of Long-COVID19 Autonomic Syndrome in a group of active workers as well as the relationships between their autonomic dysfunction and work ability. This prospective observational study was conducted during the 2nd wave of the pandemic in Italy. Forty-five patients (53.6 ± 8.4 years; 32 M) hospitalized for COVID19, were consecutively enrolled at the time of their hospital discharge (T0) and followed-up for 6 months. Autonomic symptoms and work ability were assessed by COMPASS31 and Work Ability Index questionnaires at T0, one (T1), three and six (T6) months after hospital discharge and compared to those retrospectively collected for a period preceding SARS-CoV-2 infection. Clinical examination and standing test were also performed at T1 and T6. One in three working-age people developed a new autonomic syndrome that was still evident 6 months after the acute infection resolution. This was associated with a significant reduction in the work ability. Recognition of Long-COVID19 Autonomic Syndrome may promote early intervention to facilitate return to work and prevent unemployment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Rinaldi
- Occupational Medicine, IRCCS Salvatore Maugeri, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Stefano Rigo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy
| | - Margherita Pani
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Bisoglio
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Vita e Salute S. Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Kareem Khalaf
- Department of Gastroenterology, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Maura Minonzio
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Internal Medicine, 20089, Rozzano, Italy
| | - Dana Shiffer
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Internal Medicine, 20089, Rozzano, Italy
| | - Maria Angela Romeo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Michele Ciccarelli
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Internal Medicine, 20089, Rozzano, Italy
| | | | - Saverio Stranges
- Departments of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Family Medicine and Medicine, Western University, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Elio Riboli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy
- School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Raffaello Furlan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Internal Medicine, 20089, Rozzano, Italy
| | - Franca Barbic
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy.
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Internal Medicine, 20089, Rozzano, Italy.
- Departments of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Family Medicine and Medicine, Western University, London, ON, Canada.
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Nicolini P, Malfatto G, Lucchi T. Heart Rate Variability and Cognition: A Narrative Systematic Review of Longitudinal Studies. J Clin Med 2024; 13:280. [PMID: 38202287 PMCID: PMC10780278 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13010280] [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: 11/05/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Heart rate variability (HRV) is a reliable and convenient method to assess autonomic function. Cross-sectional studies have established a link between HRV and cognition. Longitudinal studies are an emerging area of research with important clinical implications in terms of the predictive value of HRV for future cognition and in terms of the potential causal relationship between HRV and cognition. However, they have not yet been the objective of a systematic review. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review was to investigate the association between HRV and cognition in longitudinal studies. METHODS The review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The Embase, PsycINFO and PubMed databases were searched from the earliest available date to 26 June 2023. Studies were included if they involved adult human subjects and evaluated the longitudinal association between HRV and cognition. The risk of bias was assessed with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for Cohort Studies. The results were presented narratively. RESULTS Of 14,359 records screened, 12 studies were included in this systematic review, with a total of 24,390 participants. Two thirds of the studies were published from 2020 onwards. All studies found a longitudinal relationship between HRV and cognition. There was a consistent association between higher parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) activity and better cognition, and some association between higher sympathetic nervous system activity and worse cognition. Also, higher PNS activity persistently predicted better executive functioning, while data on episodic memory and language were more scant and/or controversial. CONCLUSIONS Our results support the role of HRV as a biomarker of future cognition and, potentially, as a therapeutic target to improve cognition. They will need confirmation by further, more comprehensive studies also including unequivocal non-HRV sympathetic measures and meta-analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Nicolini
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Geriatric Unit, Internal Medicine Department, 20122 Milan, Italy;
| | - Gabriella Malfatto
- Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS, Department of Cardiovascular, Neural and Metabolic Sciences, Ospedale San Luca, 20149 Milan, Italy;
| | - Tiziano Lucchi
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Geriatric Unit, Internal Medicine Department, 20122 Milan, Italy;
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