Association of Autonomic Dysfunction With Long COVID: Evaluation Using Quantitative Autonomic Testing
Authors' conclusion
When adjusted for age and sex, patients with long COVID may demonstrate persistent autonomic dysfunction that is similar to patients with pure autonomic failure.
Study context
- Population
- Patients referred for autonomic testing
- Exposure
- Long COVID vs controls vs pure autonomic failure
- Outcome
- Autonomic function measures: heart rate and BP during active standing, Valsalva maneuver, respiratory sinus arrhythmia and tilt-table testing
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Long COVID vs controls: greater heart rate increase and BP drop with active standing and tilt-table testing
- all P < 0.05
- Long COVID vs controls: lower Valsalva ratios and respiratory sinus arrhythmia values
- both P < 0.05
- Long COVID vs pure autonomic failure: greater heart rate increase but lower BP drop with active standing and tilt-table testing, lesser respiratory sinus arrhythmia values and Valsalva ratios
- all P < 0.001
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Time since infection
- Autonomic testing abnormalities observed in patients referred up to 40 months after infection
Original publication
Association of Autonomic Dysfunction With Long COVID: Evaluation Using Quantitative Autonomic Testing. J Am Coll Cardiol. Published 10 December 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →