AIM 1. Characterize cardiovascular phenotypes of long COVID by cardiopulmonary,meta-bolic, and cardiac mechanical/physiological responses to exercise and microvascularvasomotor function.AIM 2. Identify intercellular signaling between immune cells and cardiac cells associatedwith 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
CUIMC
New York 5128581, New York 5128638, United States
Emily Tsai, MD, Principal Investigator
Florence Irving Associate Professor of Medicine, Dept of Medicine Cardiology