Is There a Relationship between Hyperventilation Syndrome and History of Acute SARS-CoV-2 Infection? A...

Area of Science:

• Pulmonary Medicine
• Respiratory Physiology
• Infectious Disease Epidemiology

Background:

• Persistent respiratory symptoms, including dyspnea, are common sequelae of COVID-19.
• Hyperventilation syndrome (HVS) is a potential contributor to these long-term respiratory complaints in COVID-19 survivors.
• Understanding the link between prior SARS-CoV-2 infection and HVS is crucial for managing post-COVID conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between a history of acute COVID-19 infection and the presence of hyperventilation syndrome (HVS).
• To determine if HVS is more prevalent in individuals with a history of COVID-19 compared to those without.
• To explore this relationship specifically in patients referred for lung function testing.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study was conducted with 2846 patients referred to a Lung Function and Exercise Testing Department.
• Participants completed the Nijmegen Questionnaire to assess for HVS, a dyspnea scale, and a post-COVID screening questionnaire.
• HVS was diagnosed based on a Nijmegen score > 23/64, with comparisons made between COVID-19 positive and negative groups using multivariate logistic regression.

Main Results:

• Out of 2846 patients, 455 (16%) reported a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection, and 590 (20.7%) met the criteria for HVS.
• Patients with a history of COVID-19 infection that did not require hospitalization showed a significantly increased occurrence of HVS (adjusted odds ratio = 1.93).
• No significant association was found for hospitalized COVID-19 patients, indicating a specific link in non-severe cases.

Conclusions:

• The study suggests a significant association between a diagnosis of hyperventilation syndrome and a history of non-hospitalized COVID-19 infection.
• HVS may be an important factor to consider in the evaluation of persistent respiratory symptoms following mild to moderate COVID-19.
• Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms underlying this association and to develop targeted interventions for post-COVID respiratory dysfunction.