Remodeling of vessels of the upper extremities in case of vibration disease in combination with arterial hypertension in the postcovid period

Objective. To study the features of vascular remodeling of the upper extremities in patients with I-II degree of vibration disease (VD) from local vibration in combination with arterial hypertension (AH) in the post-COVID period. Materials and methods. 80 patients with VD and hypertension who had suffered COVID-19 (the main group) were examined. In this group, the mild form of CVI prevailed — 70.0%. The comparison group consisted of 50 patients with similar diagnoses, comparable in age, work experience and duration of the diseases but who hadn`t had COVID—19. The study of the condition of peripheral blood flow of the upper extremities was carried out by rheovasography (RVG) on the rheographic complex "Rheo-Spectrum" before the CVI (during planned hospitalization in the department of occupational pathology), 3 and 12 months after it. Results. In patients of the main group, the RVG readings of the vessels of the shoulders and hands before CVI practically did not differ from those of the comparison group. In 3 months after COVID-19, patients in the main group showed a moderate decrease in rheographic index, maximum rapid filling rate, average slow filling rate, dicrotic and diastolic indexes, and time of pulse wave propagation from the heart, in relation to the comparison group. 12 months after the CVI, a further decrease in all analyzed parameters was revealed in the same patients. Conclusions. Remodeling of the vessels of the upper extremities and the common carotid artery occurs in the post-COVID period in I-II-degree VD from local vibration combined with hypertension. 3 months after COVID-19, in patients with VD and hypertension, a decrease in all analyzed indicators was observed in the vessels of the forearm and hands in relation to those who did not have CVI. 12 months after CVI, a further disturbance of peripheral blood flow is revealed according to RVG in the forearms and hands of patients with VD combined with hypertension.