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Kuchler T, Günthner R, Ribeiro A, Hausinger R, Streese L, Wöhnl A, Kesseler V, Negele J, Assali T, Carbajo-Lozoya J, Lech M, Schneider H, Adorjan K, Stubbe HC, Hanssen H, Kotilar K, Haller B, Heemann U, Schmaderer C. Persistent endothelial dysfunction in post-COVID-19 syndrome and its associations with symptom severity and chronic inflammation. Angiogenesis 2023; 26:547-563. [PMID: 37507580 PMCID: PMC10542303 DOI: 10.1007/s10456-023-09885-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS) is a lingering disease with ongoing symptoms such as fatigue and cognitive impairment resulting in a high impact on the daily life of patients. Understanding the pathophysiology of PCS is a public health priority, as it still poses a diagnostic and treatment challenge for physicians. METHODS In this prospective observational cohort study, we analyzed the retinal microcirculation using Retinal Vessel Analysis (RVA) in a cohort of patients with PCS and compared it to an age- and gender-matched healthy cohort (n = 41, matched out of n = 204). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS PCS patients exhibit persistent endothelial dysfunction (ED), as indicated by significantly lower venular flicker-induced dilation (vFID; 3.42% ± 1.77% vs. 4.64% ± 2.59%; p = 0.02), narrower central retinal artery equivalent (CRAE; 178.1 [167.5-190.2] vs. 189.1 [179.4-197.2], p = 0.01) and lower arteriolar-venular ratio (AVR; (0.84 [0.8-0.9] vs. 0.88 [0.8-0.9], p = 0.007). When combining AVR and vFID, predicted scores reached good ability to discriminate groups (area under the curve: 0.75). Higher PCS severity scores correlated with lower AVR (R = - 0.37 p = 0.017). The association of microvascular changes with PCS severity were amplified in PCS patients exhibiting higher levels of inflammatory parameters. CONCLUSION Our results demonstrate that prolonged endothelial dysfunction is a hallmark of PCS, and impairments of the microcirculation seem to explain ongoing symptoms in patients. As potential therapies for PCS emerge, RVA parameters may become relevant as clinical biomarkers for diagnosis and therapy management. TRIAL REGISTRATION This study was previously registered at ClinicalTrials ("All Eyes on PCS-Analysis of the Retinal Microvasculature in Patients with Post-COVID-19 Syndrome". NCT05635552. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05635552 ). Persistent endothelial dysfunction in post-COVID-19 syndrome. Acute SARS-CoV-2 infection indirectly or directly causes endotheliitis in patients. N = 41 PCS patients were recruited and retinal vessel analysis was performed to assess microvascular endothelial function. Images of SVA and DVA are illustrative for RVA data analysis. For each PCS patient and healthy cohort, venular vessel diameter of the three measurement cycles was calculated and plotted on a diameter-time curve. Patients exhibited reduced flicker-induced dilation in veins (vFID) measured by dynamic vessel analysis (DVA) and lower central retinal arteriolar equivalent (CRAE) and arteriolar-venular ratio (AVR) and a tendency towards higher central retinal venular equivalent (CRVE) when compared to SARS-CoV-2 infection naïve participants. Created with BioRender.com.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timon Kuchler
- School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Department of Nephrology, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Roman Günthner
- School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Department of Nephrology, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Andrea Ribeiro
- School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Department of Nephrology, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany
- Medizinische Klinik Und Poliklinik IV, LMU University Hospital Munich, Ziemssenstraße 5, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Renate Hausinger
- School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Department of Nephrology, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Lukas Streese
- Faculty of Health Care, Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences, Krefeld, Germany
| | - Anna Wöhnl
- School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Department of Nephrology, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Veronika Kesseler
- School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Department of Nephrology, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Johanna Negele
- School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Department of Nephrology, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Tarek Assali
- School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Department of Nephrology, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Javier Carbajo-Lozoya
- School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Department of Nephrology, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Maciej Lech
- Medizinische Klinik Und Poliklinik IV, LMU University Hospital Munich, Ziemssenstraße 5, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Heike Schneider
- School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Department of Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Kristina Adorjan
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital Munich, Nußbaumstraße 7, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Hans Christian Stubbe
- Medizinische Klinik Und Poliklinik II, LMU University Hospital Munich, Marchioninistraße 15, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Henner Hanssen
- Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, Preventive Sports Medicine and Systems Physiology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Konstantin Kotilar
- Aachen University of Applied Sciences, Heinrich-Mussmann-Str. 1, 52428, Jülich, Germany
| | - Bernhard Haller
- School of Medicine, Institute for AI and Informatics in Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Uwe Heemann
- School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Department of Nephrology, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Christoph Schmaderer
- School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Department of Nephrology, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany.
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany.
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Kuchler T, Günthner R, Ribeiro A, Hausinger R, Streese L, Wöhnl A, Kesseler V, Negele J, Assali T, Carbajo-Lozoya J, Lech M, Schneider H, Adorjan K, Stubbe HC, Hanssen H, Kotilar K, Haller B, Heemann U, Schmaderer C. Correction: Persistent endothelial dysfunction in post-COVID-19 syndrome and its associations with symptom severity and chronic inflammation. Angiogenesis 2023; 26:565. [PMID: 37612533 PMCID: PMC10542566 DOI: 10.1007/s10456-023-09892-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Timon Kuchler
- School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Department of Nephrology, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Roman Günthner
- School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Department of Nephrology, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Andrea Ribeiro
- School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Department of Nephrology, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany
- Medizinische Klinik Und Poliklinik IV, LMU University Hospital Munich, Ziemssenstraße 5, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Renate Hausinger
- School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Department of Nephrology, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Lukas Streese
- Faculty of Health Care, Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences, Krefeld, Germany
| | - Anna Wöhnl
- School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Department of Nephrology, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Veronika Kesseler
- School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Department of Nephrology, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Johanna Negele
- School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Department of Nephrology, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Tarek Assali
- School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Department of Nephrology, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Javier Carbajo-Lozoya
- School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Department of Nephrology, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Maciej Lech
- Medizinische Klinik Und Poliklinik IV, LMU University Hospital Munich, Ziemssenstraße 5, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Heike Schneider
- School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Department of Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Kristina Adorjan
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital Munich, Nußbaumstraße 7, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Hans Christian Stubbe
- Medizinische Klinik Und Poliklinik II, LMU University Hospital Munich, Marchioninistraße 15, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Henner Hanssen
- Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, Preventive Sports Medicine and Systems Physiology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Konstantin Kotilar
- Aachen University of Applied Sciences, Heinrich-Mussmann-Str. 1, 52428, Jülich, Germany
| | - Bernhard Haller
- School of Medicine, Institute for AI and Informatics in Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Uwe Heemann
- School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Department of Nephrology, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Christoph Schmaderer
- School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Department of Nephrology, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany.
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany.
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Holzmann-Littig C, Stadler D, Popp M, Kranke P, Fichtner F, Schmaderer C, Renders L, Braunisch MC, Assali T, Platen L, Wijnen-Meijer M, Lühnen J, Steckelberg A, Pfadenhauer L, Haller B, Fuetterer C, Seeber C, Schaaf C. Locating Medical Information during an Infodemic: Information Seeking Behavior and Strategies of Health-Care Workers in Germany. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:healthcare11111602. [PMID: 37297742 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11111602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 05/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a flood of-often contradictory-evidence. HCWs had to develop strategies to locate information that supported their work. We investigated the information-seeking of different HCW groups in Germany. METHODS In December 2020, we conducted online surveys on COVID-19 information sources, strategies, assigned trustworthiness, and barriers-and in February 2021, on COVID-19 vaccination information sources. Results were analyzed descriptively; group comparisons were performed using χ2-tests. RESULTS For general COVID-19-related medical information (413 participants), non-physicians most often selected official websites (57%), TV (57%), and e-mail/newsletters (46%) as preferred information sources-physicians chose official websites (63%), e-mail/newsletters (56%), and professional journals (55%). Non-physician HCWs used Facebook/YouTube more frequently. The main barriers were insufficient time and access issues. Non-physicians chose abstracts (66%), videos (45%), and webinars (40%) as preferred information strategy; physicians: overviews with algorithms (66%), abstracts (62%), webinars (48%). Information seeking on COVID-19 vaccination (2700 participants) was quite similar, however, with newspapers being more often used by non-physicians (63%) vs. physician HCWs (70%). CONCLUSION Non-physician HCWs more often consulted public information sources. Employers/institutions should ensure the supply of professional, targeted COVID-19 information for different HCW groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Holzmann-Littig
- Department of Nephrology, School of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany
- TUM Medical Education Center, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - David Stadler
- Department of Nephrology, School of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Maria Popp
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care, Emergency and Pain Medicine, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Peter Kranke
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care, Emergency and Pain Medicine, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Falk Fichtner
- Faculty of Medicine, Clinic and Polyclinic for Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Christoph Schmaderer
- Department of Nephrology, School of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Lutz Renders
- Department of Nephrology, School of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Matthias Christoph Braunisch
- Department of Nephrology, School of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Tarek Assali
- Department of Nephrology, School of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Louise Platen
- Department of Nephrology, School of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Marjo Wijnen-Meijer
- TUM Medical Education Center, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Julia Lühnen
- Institute for Health and Nursing Science, Medical Faculty, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06112 Halle (Saale), Germany
- Clinic for Internal Medicine I, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06112 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Anke Steckelberg
- Institute for Health and Nursing Science, Medical Faculty, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06112 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Lisa Pfadenhauer
- Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry and Epidemiology-IBE, Chair of Public Health and Health Services Research, LMU Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
- Pettenkofer School of Public Health, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Bernhard Haller
- Institute of AI and Informatics in Medicine, School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Cornelia Fuetterer
- Institute of AI and Informatics in Medicine, School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Christian Seeber
- Faculty of Medicine, Clinic and Polyclinic for Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Christian Schaaf
- Department of Nephrology, School of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany
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Braunisch MC, Mayer CC, Werfel S, Bauer A, Haller B, Lorenz G, Günthner R, Matschkal J, Bachmann Q, Thunich S, Schlegl M, Ludwig M, Holzmann-Littig C, Assali T, Pachmann M, Küchle C, Renders L, Wassertheurer S, Müller A, Schmidt G, Heemann U, Malik M, Schmaderer C. U-Shaped Association of the Heart Rate Variability Triangular Index and Mortality in Hemodialysis Patients With Atrial Fibrillation. Front Cardiovasc Med 2021; 8:751052. [PMID: 34912859 PMCID: PMC8667023 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2021.751052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Accepted: 10/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is common in hemodialysis patients and contributes to increased mortality. We aimed to examine heart rate variability triangular index (HRVI) in hemodialysis patients with AF as it has recently been reported to predict mortality in AF patients without kidney disease. Methods: A total of 88 patients on hemodialysis with a medical history of AF or newly diagnosed AF underwent 24-h electrocardiography recordings. The primary endpoint of cardiovascular mortality was recorded during a median follow up of 3.0 years. Risk prediction was assessed by Cox regression, both unadjusted and adjusted for the Charlson Comorbidity Index and the Cardiovascular Mortality Risk Score. Results: Median age was 76 years, median dialysis vintage was 27 months. Altogether, 22 and 44 patients died due to cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular causes. In 55% of patients AF was present during the recording. Kaplan-Meier plots of HRVI quartiles suggested a non-linear association between HRVI, cardiovascular, and all-cause mortality which was confirmed in non-linear Cox regression analysis. Adjusted linear Cox regression revealed a hazard ratio of 6.2 (95% CI: 2.1–17.7, p = 0.001) and 2.2 (95% CI: 1.3–3.8, p = 0.002) for the outer quartiles (combined first and fourth quartile) for cardiovascular and all-cause mortality, respectively. Patients in the first quartile were more likely to have sinus rhythm whereas patients in the fourth quartile were more likely to have AF. Conclusions: We found a U-shaped association between HRVI and mortality in hemodialysis AF patients. The results might contribute to risk stratification independent of known risk scores in hemodialysis AF patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias C Braunisch
- Department of Nephrology, School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Christopher C Mayer
- Center for Health and Bioresources, Biomedical Systems, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Vienna, Austria
| | - Stanislas Werfel
- Department of Nephrology, School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Axel Bauer
- University Hospital for Internal Medicine III, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.,Department of Cardiology, Munich University Clinic, DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | - Bernhard Haller
- Department of Nephrology, School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.,School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Institute of Medical Informatics, Statistics and Epidemiology (IMedIS), Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Georg Lorenz
- Department of Nephrology, School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Roman Günthner
- Department of Nephrology, School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Julia Matschkal
- Department of Nephrology, School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Quirin Bachmann
- Department of Nephrology, School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Stephan Thunich
- Department of Nephrology, School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.,School of Medicine, Deutsches Herzzentrum München, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Michaela Schlegl
- Department of Nephrology, School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Maximilian Ludwig
- Department of Nephrology, School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Christopher Holzmann-Littig
- Department of Nephrology, School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Tarek Assali
- Department of Nephrology, School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Claudius Küchle
- Department of Nephrology, School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Lutz Renders
- Department of Nephrology, School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Siegfried Wassertheurer
- Center for Health and Bioresources, Biomedical Systems, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Vienna, Austria
| | - Alexander Müller
- Department of Nephrology, School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.,School of Medicine, Klinik für Innere Medizin I, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Georg Schmidt
- Department of Nephrology, School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.,School of Medicine, Klinik für Innere Medizin I, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Uwe Heemann
- Department of Nephrology, School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Marek Malik
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.,Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Christoph Schmaderer
- Department of Nephrology, School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
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