Assessment of the autonomic balance of patients hospitalized by COVID-19

Abstract

With the worldwide repercussion of the pandemic, caused by COVID19, there was a major public health problem, causing a great burden on the health system. The high contagion and rapid spread of the virus, in addition to the little knowledge we still have about it and the best treatment, it is important to identify markers at the beginning of the disease. Evaluation based on heart rate variability (HRV) has already proved to be an early marker of cardiorespiratory complications and death in hospitalized septic patients and can also become an important tool for this population, since there are no studies yet. The aim is that through this assessment it is possible to predict cardiovascular complications and deaths caused by COVID-19, thus offering a better treatment. Objective: The aim of the present study is to assess the autonomic balance through heart rate variability (HRV) in patients with a positive diagnosis of COVID-19and to contrast the cardiac autonomic response with patients with a negative diagnosis ofCOVID-19 hospitalized in São Carlos hospitals. Study design: This is a cross-sectional, observational and prospective study. Methods: Based on the inclusion criteria, bedside assessments will take place with preference in the first 24 to 48 hours of the patient'sadmission to the university hospital (HU) and Santa Casa hospital. In addition, the clinical and epidemiological profile of patients will be assessed using electronic medical records, Duke questionnaires and the Brief Inventory of Pain. HRV will be recorded from the RR intervals. Hypotheses: It is expected that indices such as high Frequency (HF), in which it represents parasympathetic modulation, will be decreased and low Frequency (LF) increased in patients diagnosed with COVID-19 compared to the group that did not have COVID-19.