Faculty Collaboration Database

Heart rate variability is reduced in COVID-19 survivors and associated with physical activity and fatigue. Physiol Rep 2024 Jan;12(2):e15912

Date

01/20/2024

Pubmed ID

38243329

Pubmed Central ID

PMC10799199

DOI

10.14814/phy2.15912

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85182685492 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)

Abstract

Reduced heart rate variability (HRV) and fatigue are common after COVID-19 infection and both are potentially influenced by physical activity (PA). We compared resting HRV, PA from accelerometers and questionnaires, and self-reported fatigue in 41 COVID-19 survivors (~8 months postinfection, 38 ± 17 years) with 41 matched controls. Differences in HRV were observed on acceleration capacity (p = 0.041), deceleration capacity (p = 0.032), high-frequency peak frequency (p = 0.019), absolute low-frequency power (p = 0.042), relative very low-frequency power (p = 0.012), SD2 (from Poincare plot; p = 0.047), and DFA2 (slope of long-term detrended fluctuation analysis; p = 0.004). Fatigue was greater in COVID-19 survivors (p < 0.001) with no differences in PA. Moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) (Standardized Beta = -0.427, p = 0.003) and steps per day (Standardized Beta = -0.402, p = 0.007) were associated with DFA2 in COVID-19 survivors after controlling for age, sex, and body fat percentage. Fatigue was correlated to less MVPA (Spearman's rho = 0.342, p = 0.031) and fewer steps per day (rho = 0.329, p = 0.038) in COVID-19 survivors, and was indirectly linked to HRV through these PA mediators (Estimate = -0.20; p = 0.040). We present a model showing the complex relations between HRV, PA, and fatigue that provides the foundation for strategies to improve outcomes and rehabilitation after COVID-19 infection.

Author List

Haischer MH, Opielinski LE, Mirkes LM, Uhrich TD, Bollaert RE, Danduran M, Bement MH, Piacentine LB, Papanek PE, Hunter SK

Authors

Paula Papanek PhD, MPT, LAT, FACSM Associate Professor & Director of Exercise Science in the Exercise Science & Physical Therapy department at Marquette University
Linda Piacentine BS,MS,NP,PhD Assistant Professor in the College of Nursing department at Marquette University

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Exercise
Fatigue
Heart Rate
Humans
Survivors