Persistent Increase of Sympathetic Activity in Post-Acute COVID-19 of Paucisymptomatic Healthcare Workers

Filippo Liviero (), Maria Luisa Scapellato, Franco Folino, Angelo Moretto, Paola Mason and Sofia Pavanello
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Filippo Liviero: Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, and Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University Hospital of Padua, Via Giustiniani 2, 35128 Padova, Italy
Maria Luisa Scapellato: Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, and Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University Hospital of Padua, Via Giustiniani 2, 35128 Padova, Italy
Franco Folino: Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, and Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University Hospital of Padua, Via Giustiniani 2, 35128 Padova, Italy
Angelo Moretto: Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, and Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University Hospital of Padua, Via Giustiniani 2, 35128 Padova, Italy
Paola Mason: Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, and Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University Hospital of Padua, Via Giustiniani 2, 35128 Padova, Italy
Sofia Pavanello: Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, and Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University Hospital of Padua, Via Giustiniani 2, 35128 Padova, Italy

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Healthcare workers (HCWs) represent a population with a significant burden of paucisymptomatic COVID-19, as the general population. We evaluated autonomic nervous system activity by means of heart rate variability (HRV) in HCWs during health surveillance visits. Short-term electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings were obtained 30 days (IQR 5.25–55.75) after a negative naso-pharyngeal swab for SARS-CoV-2 in 44 cases and compared with ECGs of 44 controls with similar age and sex distribution. Time and frequency domain HRV were evaluated. HCWs who used drugs, had comorbidities that affected HRV, or were hospitalized with severe COVID-19 were excluded. Frequency domain HRV analysis showed a significantly higher low/high-frequency power ratio (LF/HF) in the case study compared with controls (t = 2.84, p = 0.006). In time domain HRV analysis, mean standard deviation of normal-to-normal intervals (SDNN) and root mean square of successive RR interval differences (RMSSD) were significantly lower for cases compared with controls (t = −2.64, p = 0.01 and t = −3.27, p = 0.002, respectively). In the post-acute phase of infection, SARS-CoV-2 produces an autonomic imbalance mirrored by a reduction in HRV. These results are consistent with epidemiological data that suggest a higher risk of acute cardiovascular complications in the first 30 days after COVID-19 infection.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; paucisymptomatic COVID-19; HRV; cardiac autonomic dysfunction; increase of sympathetic activity; autonomic nervous system; TRPV-1; HCWs; health surveillance visit; general population (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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