Key result
Individuals with COVID-19 had a significant reduction in heart rate variability measured by wearable devices, with a 3.25 ms decrease in the SD of normal-to-normal interbeat intervals (95% CI -5.34 to -1.16).
Why the study?
Low HRV is linked to COVID-19 onset, severity, and mortality, but the utility of HRV measurements captured noninvasively by wearable devices to predict infection and symptom worsening required evaluation.
Does HRV measurement via wearable devices predict the onset and worsening of COVID-19?
Meta-Analysis
Does HRV measurement via wearable devices predict the onset and worsening of COVID-19?
Wearable devices measuring HRV can help identify COVID-19 during the presymptomatic period and track symptom worsening.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Low HRV may mark COVID-19 onset, severity, and mortality via wearables; leaves open prospective validation before clinical adoption.
BACKGROUND Recent studies have linked low heart rate variability (HRV) with COVID-19, indicating that this parameter can be a marker of the onset of the disease and its severity and a predictor of mortality in infected people. Given the large number of wearable devices that capture physiological signals of the human body easily and noninvasively, several studies have used this equipment to measure the HRV of individuals and related these measures to COVID-19. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to assess the utility of HRV measurements obtained from wearable devices as predictive indicators of COVID-19, as well as the onset and worsening of symptoms in affected individuals. METHODS A systematic review was conducted searching the following databases up to the end of January 2023: Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and IEEE Xplore. Studies had to include (1) measures of HRV in patients with COVID-19 and (2) measurements involving the use of wearable devices. We also conducted a meta-analysis of these measures to reduce possible biases and increase the statistical power of the primary research. RESULTS The main finding was the association between low HRV and the onset and worsening of COVID-19 symptoms. In some cases, it was possible to predict the onset of COVID-19 before a positive clinical test. The meta-analysis of studies reported that a reduction in HRV parameters is associated with COVID-19. Individuals with COVID-19 presented a reduction in the SD of the normal-to-normal interbeat intervals and root mean square of the successive differences compared with healthy individuals. The decrease in the SD of the normal-to-normal interbeat intervals was 3.25 ms (95% CI −5.34 to −1.16 ms), and the decrease in the root mean square of the successive differences was 1.24 ms (95% CI −3.71 to 1.23 ms). CONCLUSIONS Wearable devices that measure changes in HRV, such as smartwatches, rings, and bracelets, provide information that allows for the identification of COVID-19 during the presymptomatic period as well as its worsening through an indirect and noninvasive self-diagnosis.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Sanches et al. (2023) conducted a meta-analysis in COVID-19. COVID-19 infection vs. Healthy individuals was evaluated on SD of the normal-to-normal interbeat intervals (MD -3.25 ms, 95% CI -5.34 to -1.16). Individuals with COVID-19 had a significant reduction in heart rate variability measured by wearable devices, with a 3.25 ms decrease in the SD of normal-to-normal interbeat intervals (95% CI -5.34 to -1.16).
Synapse has enriched 8 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: