Prevention & lipidsSecondary analysis
Sustained Reduction in Cardiopulmonary Fitness in Long COVID
- digital health substudy of the nationwide Researching COVID-19 to Enhance Recovery Adult Cohort Study
- wearable sensor device measures
- linear regression models adjusted for wear time, age, sex, race/ethnicity, and body mass index
Authors' conclusion
Long COVID is associated with worse cardiovascular fitness. Additional studies are needed to determine if Long COVID is a novel risk factor for incident cardiovascular disease.
Study context
- Population
- Adults after SARS-CoV-2 infection, assessed over a 6-month window at least 6 months after infection72% female, 65% non-Hispanic White, median of 21 months (IQR: 15–31 months) after infection
- Participants
- 1,475 adults
- Comparison
- High Long COVID Research Index (LCRI)
- High LCRIn = 498
Primary result
Heart rate variability
Difference
−4.4 ms
95% CI −6.5 to −2.4
P < 0.001
High LCRI vs low LCRI
difference −4.4 ms (95% CI −6.5 to −2.4); P < 0.001
As reported in the abstract
Further findings
| Outcome | difference (CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metabolic equivalent of task minutes · fewer with High LCRI | −96.3 (−128.8 to −63.8) | P < 0.001 | |
| −200−1000100Difference (linear scale) |
| Outcome | difference (minutes/day very or fairly active) (CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Activity levels (minutes/day very or fairly active) · lower with High LCRI | −7.9 (−10.9 to −5.0) | P < 0.001 | |
| −15−10−505Difference, minutes/day very or fairly active (linear scale) |
| Outcome | Estimate | P value |
|---|---|---|
| Resting heart rate · higher with High LCRI | difference +1.5 beats/min (CI +0.7 to +2.4) | P < 0.001 |
| Step counts · lower with High LCRI | difference −1,624 steps/day (CI −1,952 to −1,296) | P < 0.001 |
Hierarchal clustering analysis
- two subphenotypes with abnormal cardiovascular measures associated with low quality of life scores
Original publication
Sustained Reduction in Cardiopulmonary Fitness in Long COVID. JACC Adv. Published 22 June 2026. doi:10.1016/j.jacadv.2026.102923
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it