Key result
Prior COVID-19 is linked to ~10-bpm lower first-minute heart rate recovery versus healthy controls.
Why the study?
Cardiac autonomic dysfunction due to COVID-19 has been shown, but the effect of COVID-19 on autonomic nervous system function assessed by heart rate recovery index (HRRI) needed evaluation.
Does prior COVID-19 infection impair the heart rate recovery index in adults without baseline chronic diseases?
Observational (n=63)
No
Does prior COVID-19 infection impair the heart rate recovery index in adults without baseline chronic diseases?
Prior COVID-19 infection is associated with an impaired heart rate recovery index post-exercise, suggesting lingering cardiac autonomic dysfunction even in patients without chronic diseases.
Prior COVID-19 was associated with impaired heart rate recovery; hypothesis-generating and should not yet change practice.
OBJECTIVE: Heart rate recovery index (HRRI) occurs as a result of vagal reactivation and sympathetic retraction and is an independent risk factor used to assess autonomic nervous system (ANS) function and to determine prognosis in cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality. It has been shown in various studies that cardiac autonomic dysfunction due to COVID-19 can occur. The aim of our study is to evaluate the effect of COVID-19 on ANS functions in people who have had this disease with HRRI. METHODS: min during the post-exercise relaxation phase from the peak heart rate during exercise. P<0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: min HRRI were found to be significantly lower than in the control group (p<0.001, p=0.006, p=0.039, respectively). CONCLUSION: According to the results of our study, HRRI is impaired as an indicator of autonomic dysfunction in people who have had COVID-19. This situation correlates with other studies that have results of ANS dysfunction due to COVID-19, and this may pose a risk factor for increased mortality and morbidity.
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Genisoglu et al. (2026) conducted an observational in COVID-19 (n=63). COVID-19 history vs. Healthy individuals without a history of COVID-19 was evaluated on 1st minute Heart Rate Recovery Index (HRRI) (p=<0.001). Patients with a history of COVID-19 had a significantly lower 1st-minute heart rate recovery index compared to healthy controls (21.8 vs 31.4 beats/min, p<0.001), indicating impaired autonomic function.
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