Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome and the cardiovascular system: What is known?, 2021, Dixit et al

[Andy]

Abstract

Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome (PACS) is defined by persistent symptoms >3–4 weeks after onset of COVID-19. The mechanism of these persistent symptoms is distinct from acute COVID-19 although not completely understood despite the high incidence of PACS. Cardiovascular symptoms such as chest pain and palpitations commonly occur in PACS, but the underlying cause of symptoms is infrequently known. While autopsy studies have shown that the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) rarely causes direct myocardial injury, several syndromes such as myocarditis, pericarditis, and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome have been implicated in PACS. Additionally, patients hospitalized with acute COVID-19 who display biomarker evidence of myocardial injury may have underlying coronary artery disease revealed by the physiological stress of SARS-CoV-2 infection and may benefit from medical optimization. We review what is known about PACS and the cardiovascular system and propose a framework for evaluation and management of related symptoms.

Open access, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666602221000239

 

[Wyva]

I don't know much about the cardiology part but as far as we are concerned, this review is far from great:

CFS is defined as severe, disabling post-exertional fatigue that affects physical and mental functioning. Fever, headache, sore throat, cough, myalgia, and fatigue are the predominant symptoms but differ from patient to patient [61]. Symptoms must occur at least 50% of the time for a minimum of 6 months [60]. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with graduated physical exercise can be an effective treatment in CFS [61]. Pharmacologic treatment with anti-depressants, steroids, and vitamin supplements has shown mixed results in small-scale clinical trials [62]. Given that the symptoms of PACS bear a strong resemblance to CFS, CBT with graduated exercise should be explored in future studies as a possible treatment modality in PACS.

Mild-to-moderate acute COVID-19 has been shown to have symptoms lasting an average of 6–17 days, potentially leading to significant deconditioning [67]. Some authors have suggested symptomatic and physiological changes that may occur after periods of deconditioning parallel those of POTS and CFS [68]. Graduated exercise is the only effective treatment for deconditioning [65].

This seems to come from the US, UCLA more precisely. Aren't they supposed to be more enlightened about this there?

 

[Mij]

Um, I don't think Ella Eastin was ever decondtioned.

Two-time Pac-12 Women’s Swimmer of the Year Ella Eastin has given up her swimming career and chase for the Olympics because of a condition called dysautonomia. The news came this week as part of an announcement that she is one of three former Stanford student-athletes, along with fellow swimmer True Sweetser, to have received a $10,000 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship.

Eastin has not raced in an official meet since December 2019, and left Stanford, where she was training as a post-grad, to return home to Southern California at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.

According to the Pac-12 Conference release, Eastin’s dysautonomia may be the result of long-COVID, which is the description given to some long-lasting impacts of the disease caused by the coronavirus that has driven the global pandemic of the last 18 months.

https://swimswam.com/ella-eastin-retires-from-swimming-after-dysautonomia-diagnosis/

 

[rvallee]

Mild-to-moderate acute COVID-19 has been shown to have symptoms lasting an average of 6–17 days, potentially leading to significant deconditioning

This is obviously ridiculous. Why are ridiculous statements so common in medical research? Are these people not aware that most people don't exercise regularly and that deconditioning obviously does not fluctuate or occur from a mere week of lower activity? Or of the circumstances that most people experience LC? Of course not, it would obviously be too much to ask to pay attention.

At least this is showing that the absurdly bad quality of research on ME is not an anomaly, it's the norm wherever chronic health problems are concerned, to the point where basic scientific competence is the exception. No wonder medical research makes so little progress when most efforts are explicitly wasted.

 

[Mithriel]

6 - 17 days is about the length of time many people celebrate Christmas and New Year by lazing about, watching TV and eating.

edit and that's how many people spend holidays by the pool I have heard (not that I've ever had one thanks to ME)