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Sympathetic activation: a potential link between comorbidities and COVID-19

Andrea Porzionato1, Aron Emmi1, Silvia Barbon1

  • 1Section of Anatomy, Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Italy.

The FEBS Journal
|August 12, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Sympathetic nervous system overactivation may worsen outcomes in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients with existing health conditions. This heightened sympathetic activity could create a detrimental cycle, impacting multiple organ systems and increasing disease severity.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Science
  • Neuroscience
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) severity is linked to age, male gender, and comorbidities like hypertension and diabetes.
  • These comorbidities often involve heightened sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity.
  • The SNS role in COVID-19 pathophysiology remains under-explored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the potential role of sympathetic overactivation in the pathophysiology of COVID-19.
  • To explore how SNS activity might exacerbate COVID-19 in patients with comorbidities.

Main Methods:

  • This study is based on a review and conceptual analysis of existing literature.
  • It synthesizes information on COVID-19, comorbidities, and the sympathetic nervous system.

Main Results:

  • Increased sympathetic discharge is a common feature of COVID-19 comorbidities.
  • COVID-19 itself may trigger SNS overactivation through various mechanisms.
  • SNS overactivation can negatively impact the lungs, heart, kidneys, and immune system.

Conclusions:

  • Sympathetic overactivation is a potential, overlooked factor in COVID-19.
  • It may contribute to a vicious cycle between COVID-19 and pre-existing conditions.
  • Further research into the SNS role is crucial for understanding COVID-19 severity.

Keywords:
COVID-19SARS-CoV-2autonomic nervous systemdiabetesheart failurehypertensionkidney diseaseobesitysmokingsympathoactivation

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