Affiliation:
1. Exercise Science Program Marquette University Milwaukee Wisconsin USA
2. Athletic and Human Performance Research Center Marquette University Milwaukee Wisconsin USA
3. Department of Physical Therapy Marquette University Milwaukee Wisconsin USA
4. College of Nursing Marquette University Milwaukee Wisconsin USA
5. Human Performance Assessment Core Marquette University Milwaukee Wisconsin USA
6. Children’s Wisconsin Milwaukee Wisconsin USA
Abstract
AbstractReduced heart rate variability (HRV) and fatigue are common after COVID‐19 infection and both are potentially influenced by physical activity (PA). We compared resting HRV, PA from accelerometers and questionnaires, and self‐reported fatigue in 41 COVID‐19 survivors (~8 months postinfection, 38 ± 17 years) with 41 matched controls. Differences in HRV were observed on acceleration capacity (p = 0.041), deceleration capacity (p = 0.032), high‐frequency peak frequency (p = 0.019), absolute low‐frequency power (p = 0.042), relative very low‐frequency power (p = 0.012), SD2 (from Poincare plot; p = 0.047), and DFA2 (slope of long‐term detrended fluctuation analysis; p = 0.004). Fatigue was greater in COVID‐19 survivors (p < 0.001) with no differences in PA. Moderate‐vigorous physical activity (MVPA) (Standardized Beta = −0.427, p = 0.003) and steps per day (Standardized Beta = −0.402, p = 0.007) were associated with DFA2 in COVID‐19 survivors after controlling for age, sex, and body fat percentage. Fatigue was correlated to less MVPA (Spearman's rho = 0.342, p = 0.031) and fewer steps per day (rho = 0.329, p = 0.038) in COVID‐19 survivors, and was indirectly linked to HRV through these PA mediators (Estimate = −0.20; p = 0.040). We present a model showing the complex relations between HRV, PA, and fatigue that provides the foundation for strategies to improve outcomes and rehabilitation after COVID‐19 infection.
Subject
Physiology (medical),Physiology