Heart Rate Regulation in Long-Covid-19 Patients According to the Year of Infection

This study explores the lasting effects of COVID-19 on the cardiovascular system by examining heart rate variability (HRV) in long-COVID-19 patients using the Tilt Test, a tool that assesses the sympathetic and parasympathetic system (SPS).The study involved 30 long-COVID-19 patients, categorized based on the year of infection (2020, 2021, and 2022), and compared their HRV parameters in time and frequency domains to a control group (CG) of 14 individuals.Significant variations (p<0.05) in heart rate (HR) were observed across the different groups, with the 2022 infection group showing the most significant discrepancies from the CG, suggesting potential SPS disturbances.The 2020 group's HR variance was closer to the CG, while the 2021 group exhibited HR variance nearer to the CG than the 2022 group.These variations were further supported by the LF/HF ratio results, which mirrored the HR variance patterns (p<0.05).The findings highlight the importance of considering the year of infection and emphasize the need for prolonged monitoring to understand the long-term cardiac impact of COVID-19 on patients.However, the study also points out the need for further research, given the limited sample size and data availability, to thoroughly understand the virus's impact on the autonomic nervous system and cardiovascular health.