Cardiovascular function and physical activity in COVID-19
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Cardiovascular implications and physical activity in middle-age and older people with a history of COVID-19
IRAS ID
306179
Contact name
Djordje Jakovljevic
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Coventry University
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 2 months, 9 days
Research summary
The recent outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) highlights challenges in the battle against outbreaks of novel virus infections. Many reports highlight cardiovascular involvement as a prominent feature in COVID-19 with poor prognosis leading to worse outcomes. Inflammation associated with historic coronaviruses have led to myocardial injury evidenced by elevated cardiac biomarkers (i.e. high-sensitivity cardiac troponin) and also believed to be the case in COVID-19 patients. At present it is unknown to what extent COVID-19 impacts cardiovascular and metabolic function, but previous longitudinal follow-up of SARS-CoV-1 found that several years after the infection, over 50% of patients presented with hyperlipidaemia, cardiovascular system abnormalities and impaired metabolism. Thus, the present research will evaluate effect of COVID-19 on cardiac function and determine their amelioration with physical activity.
Cardiac function will be assessed by obtaining arterial stiffness, echocardiography measurements and haemodynamic monitoring. Exercise stress testing coupled with non-invasive gas exchange and haemodynamic monitoring will also be performed. Physical activity will be assessed using pedometers and accelerometery. Quality of life, circadian rhythm, fatigue, anxiety and depression will be measured using the validated SF-36 questionnaire, Pittsburgh Sleep scale, Chalder fatigue scale and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21).
In addition, individuals with a previous history of PCR-diagnosed COVID-19 will be further recruited into a randomised controlled exercise intervention. The Active-at-Home-HF intervention will be adopted, whereby participants will aim to increase their daily number of steps by 2,000 from baseline.
The proposed research will improve our understanding about the influence of COVID-19 on cardiovascular risk and facilitate evaluation of novel non- pharmacological intervention on cardiac function in these patients. Better understanding of the pathophysiological consequences may lead to development and implementation of novel interventions which reduce morbidity and improve quality of life in people with history of COVID-19.REC name
East Midlands - Leicester South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/EM/0090
Date of REC Opinion
21 Jun 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion