Role of Body Mass and Physical Activity in Autonomic Function Modulation on Post-COVID-19 Condition: An Observational Subanalysis of Fit-COVID Study

Ana Paula Coelho Figueira Freire, Fabio Santos Lira, Ana Elisa von Ah Morano, Telmo Pereira, Manuel-João Coelho-E-Silva, Armando Caseiro, Diego Giulliano Destro Christofaro, Osmar Marchioto Júnior, Gilson Pires Dorneles, Luciele Guerra Minuzzi, Ricardo Aurino Pinho and Bruna Spolador de Alencar Silva
Additional contact information
Ana Paula Coelho Figueira Freire: Department of Health Sciences, Central Washington University Ellensburg, Ellensburg, WA 98926, USA
Fabio Santos Lira: Exercise and Immunometabolism Research Group, Postgraduate Program in Movement Sciences, Department of Physical Education, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Presidente Prudente 19060-900, Brazil
Ana Elisa von Ah Morano: Exercise and Immunometabolism Research Group, Postgraduate Program in Movement Sciences, Department of Physical Education, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Presidente Prudente 19060-900, Brazil
Telmo Pereira: Polytechnic of Coimbra, ESTESC, Laboratory Biomedical Sciences, 3046-854 Coimbra, Portugal
Manuel-João Coelho-E-Silva: Faculty of Sport Science and Physiucal Education, University of Coimbra, CIDAF, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
Armando Caseiro: Polytechnic of Coimbra, ESTESC, Laboratory Biomedical Sciences, 3046-854 Coimbra, Portugal
Diego Giulliano Destro Christofaro: Postgraduate Program in Movement Sciences, Department of Physical Education, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Presidente Prudente 19060-900, Brazil
Osmar Marchioto Júnior: Exercise and Immunometabolism Research Group, Postgraduate Program in Movement Sciences, Department of Physical Education, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Presidente Prudente 19060-900, Brazil
Gilson Pires Dorneles: Cellular and Molecular Immunology Laboratory, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre 90050-170, Brazil
Luciele Guerra Minuzzi: Exercise and Immunometabolism Research Group, Postgraduate Program in Movement Sciences, Department of Physical Education, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Presidente Prudente 19060-900, Brazil
Ricardo Aurino Pinho: Graduate Program in Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Parana, Curitiba 80215-901, Brazil
Bruna Spolador de Alencar Silva: Exercise and Immunometabolism Research Group, Postgraduate Program in Movement Sciences, Department of Physical Education, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Presidente Prudente 19060-900, Brazil

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 4, 1-17

Abstract: The harmful effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can reach the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and endothelial function. Therefore, the detrimental multiorgan effects of COVID-19 could be induced by deregulations in ANS that may persist after the acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. Additionally, investigating the differences in ANS response in overweight/obese, and physically inactive participants who had COVID-19 compared to those who did not have the disease is necessary. The aim of the study was to analyze the autonomic function of young adults after mild-to-moderate infection with SARS-CoV-2 and to assess whether body mass index (BMI) and levels of physical activity modulates autonomic function in participants with and without COVID-19. Patients previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 and healthy controls were recruited for this cross-sectional observational study. A general anamnesis was taken, and BMI and physical activity levels were assessed. The ANS was evaluated through heart rate variability. A total of 57 subjects were evaluated. Sympathetic nervous system activity in the post-COVID-19 group was increased (stress index; p = 0.0273). They also presented lower values of parasympathetic activity ( p < 0.05). Overweight/obese subjects in the post-COVID-19 group presented significantly lower parasympathetic activity and reduced global variability compared to non-obese in control group ( p < 0.05). Physically inactive subjects in the post-COVID-19 group presented significantly higher sympathetic activity than active subjects in the control group. Parasympathetic activity was significantly increased in physically active subjects in the control group compared to the physically inactive post-COVID-19 group ( p < 0.05). COVID-19 promotes changes in the ANS of young adults, and these changes are modulated by overweight/obesity and physical activity levels.

Keywords: COVID-19; autonomic nervous system; heart rate; obesity; exercise (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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