Cardiovascular and Cerebral Vascular Health in Females with Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) 2023 Nandadeva et al

Abstract

Many individuals who had COVID-19 develop detrimental persistent symptoms; a condition known as post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC). Despite the elevated risk of cardiovascular disease following COVID-19, limited studies have examined vascular function in PASC with equivocal results reported. Moreover, the role of PASC symptom burden on vascular health has not been examined.

We tested the hypothesis that peripheral and cerebral vascular function would be blunted, and central arterial stiffness would be elevated in patients with PASC compared to age-matched controls. Furthermore, we hypothesized that impairments in vascular health would be greater in those with higher PASC symptom burden.

Resting blood pressure (BP; brachial and central), brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD), forearm reactive hyperemia, carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV), and cerebral vasodilator function were measured in 12 females with PASC and 11 age matched female controls without PASC. The severity of persistent symptoms in those with PASC was reported on a scale of 1-10 (higher score: greater severity).

Brachial BP (e.g., systolic BP, 126±19 vs.109±8 mmHg; P=0.010), central BP (P<0.050) and PWV (7.1±1.2 vs. 6.0±0.8 m/s; P=0.015) were higher in PASC compared to controls. However, FMD, reactive hyperemia, and cerebral vasodilator function were not different between groups (P>0.050 for all). Total symptom burden was not correlated with any measure of cardiovascular health (P>0.050 for all).

Collectively, these findings indicate that BP and central arterial stiffness are elevated in females with PASC, whereas peripheral and cerebral vascular function appear to be unaffected; effects that appear independent of symptom burden.

Paywall, https://journals.physiology.org/doi/abs/10.1152/ajpheart.00018.2023

 

Methods read as if the entire protocol was performed supine. Missed opportunity to assess the peripheral and cerebral blood flow under orthostatic challenge.

Also a missed opportunity to look at venous oxygen saturation.