Mechanisms Underlying Cardiovascular Consequences Associated With COVID-19 and Long COVID

Mechanisms Underlying Cardiovascular Consequences Associated With COVID-19 and Long COVID - Characterizing Long COVID Phenotypes Using Physiological and Molecular Studies

AIM 1. Characterize cardiovascular phenotypes of long COVID by cardiopulmonary, meta-bolic, and cardiac mechanical/physiological responses to exercise and microvascular vasomotor function.

AIM 2. Identify intercellular signaling between immune cells and cardiac cells associated with microvascular phenotypes of long COVID.

As many as 40-60% of patients who recovered from mild or moderate acute COVID have reported what is now called long COVID - multiple, persistent or recurrent symptoms lasting 6-9 months (or longer) following initial illness.1-4 Fatigue, dyspnea, and chest pain are the most common symptoms. Others include palpitations, lightheadedness, and syncope. All these cardiovascular symptoms can be debilitating, resulting in worse quality of life and morbidity.5, 6 Treatment options are limited.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age > 18, < 75 yrs
• History of lab-confirmed COVID
• Symptomatic at >12 wks post-acute COVID (cases)
• Recovered by 8wks post-acute COVID (controls)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Any history of critical illness
• Chronic kidney disease, Stage >4
• Pre-COVID: HFrEF, CABG, arrhythmia; pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary embolus, interstitial lung disease (ILD), O2 dependence; dementia, stroke, autonomic dysfunction; coagulopathy
• Post-COVID: ILD, O2 dependence