Women are still experiencing COVID-related heart issues months after being diagnosed—and they may need extra help
Even several months after a COVID-19 infection, many women still experience COVID-related heart rate irregularities after participating in physical activities. According to a new analysis in Experimental Physiology, targeted rehabilitation programs may help those patients bounce back from those lingering symptoms and fully recover.
Noting that women were much more likely than men to seek treatment for persistent COVID-19 symptoms, the study’s authors chose to focus on women for this specific analysis. They examined data from 29 women with a history of COVID-19 and another 16 healthy controls. Patients were all from the state of Indiana.
All COVID-19 patients had a positive test for SARS-CoV-2 at least one month after acute illness. None of the study participants had a history of major lung disease or heart disease. Also, none of them used tobacco products within six months of the beginning of the trial. The researchers also made sure a similar proportion of the COVID-19 group and healthy control group exceeded the age of menopause.
Participants completed a series of basic lung evaluations and a six-minute walk test. They were then tested immediately to see how their bodies responded to the physical exertion.
Overall, patients with lingering COVID-19 symptoms were associated with heart rate irregularities during the six-minute walk test in addition to a delayed recovery. The actual distances achieved during the six-minute walks, however, were similar between the two groups.
The patients with lingering COVID-19 symptoms also had a lower total lung capacity than the group of healthy patients.
“Given the greater prevalence of age-related physical disability in women, as compared to men, our findings show that a targeted rehab program might be especially useful to women and other groups affected by persistent COVID-19 symptoms—thus promoting recovery and minimizing susceptibility for deteriorating physical condition,” co-author Stephen J. Carter, PhD, of Indiana University Bloomington, said in a prepared statement.
Read the analysis here.
Michael has more than 18 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.