Impact of COVID-19 on heart rate variability in post-COVID individuals compared to a control group

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Autonomic Nervous System Research
• Infectious Disease Epidemiology

Background:

• Mild COVID-19 can affect various physiological systems, including the autonomic nervous system.
• Heart rate variability (HRV) is a key indicator of autonomic nervous system function.
• Understanding the long-term impact of mild COVID-19 on HRV is crucial for patient recovery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of mild COVID-19 on HRV at different time points post-infection.
• To compare HRV in individuals with a history of mild COVID-19 to a healthy control group.
• To identify factors influencing HRV recovery after mild COVID-19.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study including 130 individuals stratified into a control group and three post-COVID-19 groups (≤6 weeks, 2-6 months, 7-12 months).
• Analysis of linear and non-linear HRV indices.
• Statistical comparisons using ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis, with effect size calculations (Cohen's d or η²). Linear regression models were used to identify predictors of HRV parameters.

Main Results:

• Individuals ≤6 months post-mild COVID-19 showed reduced parasympathetic modulation compared to controls.
• Individuals 7-12 months post-infection exhibited increased parasympathetic modulation compared to those ≤6 months post-infection.
• Age and duration of infection were significant predictors for HRV parameters like RMSSD, SD1, and SDNN. Stress was a predictor for High Frequency (HF) power.

Conclusions:

• Mild COVID-19 has a transient effect on the autonomic nervous system, primarily affecting parasympathetic modulation in the initial months post-infection.
• Recovery of HRV is influenced by the time elapsed since diagnosis and the individual's age.
• These findings highlight the importance of monitoring autonomic function in post-COVID-19 recovery.