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Long COVID is linked to lasting lower heart and lung fitness
Updated
Abstract
Among 1,475 participants, 34% had high symptom burden related to Long COVID, assessed 21 months post-infection.
- High symptom burden was linked to significantly lower heart rate variability, indicating impaired autonomic function.
- Participants with high symptom burden had a higher resting heart rate, suggesting increased cardiovascular stress.
- A lower number of metabolic equivalent of task minutes was observed in those with high symptom burden, reflecting reduced physical activity.
- Step counts were lower by 1,624 steps per day in individuals with high symptom burden, indicating decreased mobility.
- Activity levels were reduced by 7.9 minutes per day of being very or fairly active among those with high symptoms.
- Two subphenotypes with abnormal cardiovascular measures were identified, associated with lower quality of life scores.
Simplified
Long Covid