HEART rate variability biofeedback for long COVID symptoms (HEARTLOC): protocol for a feasibility study
Introduction Long COVID (LC), also known as post-COVID-19 syndrome, refers to symptoms persisting 12 weeks after COVID-19 infection. It affects up to one in seven people contracting the illness and causes a wide range of symptoms, including fatigue, breathlessness, palpitations, dizziness, pain and...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMJ Publishing Group
2022-11-01
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| Series: | BMJ Open |
| Online Access: | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/12/11/e066044.full |
| _version_ | 1811179508397506560 |
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| author | Rory J O'Connor Joanna Corrado Manoj Sivan Alexander D Simms Jennifer Davison Rachel Tarrant Stephen Halpin Nick Preston Diana Whiteside Alexander Casson |
| author_facet | Rory J O'Connor Joanna Corrado Manoj Sivan Alexander D Simms Jennifer Davison Rachel Tarrant Stephen Halpin Nick Preston Diana Whiteside Alexander Casson |
| author_sort | Rory J O'Connor |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction Long COVID (LC), also known as post-COVID-19 syndrome, refers to symptoms persisting 12 weeks after COVID-19 infection. It affects up to one in seven people contracting the illness and causes a wide range of symptoms, including fatigue, breathlessness, palpitations, dizziness, pain and brain fog. Many of these symptoms can be linked to dysautonomia or dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system after SARS-CoV2 infection. This study aims to test the feasibility and estimate the efficacy, of the heart rate variability biofeedback (HRV-B) technique via a standardised slow diaphragmatic breathing programme in individuals with LC.Methods and analysis 30 adult LC patients with symptoms of palpitations or dizziness and an abnormal NASA Lean Test will be selected from a specialist Long COVID rehabilitation service. They will undergo a 4-week HRV-B intervention using a Polar chest strap device linked to the Elite HRV phone application while undertaking the breathing exercise technique for two 10 min periods everyday for at least 5 days a week. Quantitative data will be gathered during the study period using: HRV data from the chest strap and wrist-worn Fitbit, the modified COVID-19 Yorkshire Rehabilitation Scale, Composite Autonomic Symptom Score, WHO Disability Assessment Schedule and EQ-5D-5L health-related quality of life measures. Qualitative feedback on user experience and feasibility of using the technology in a home setting will also be gathered. Standard statistical tests for correlation and significant difference will be used to analyse the quantitate data.Ethics and dissemination The study has received ethical approval from Health Research Authority (HRA) Leicester South Research Ethics Committee (21/EM/0271). Dissemination plans include academic and lay publications.Trial registration number NCT05228665. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T06:36:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f9cc539a02ea40958c6bffcbe6525fa2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2044-6055 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T06:36:37Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Open |
| spelling | doaj.art-f9cc539a02ea40958c6bffcbe6525fa22022-12-22T04:39:42ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552022-11-01121110.1136/bmjopen-2022-066044HEART rate variability biofeedback for long COVID symptoms (HEARTLOC): protocol for a feasibility studyRory J O'Connor0Joanna Corrado1Manoj Sivan2Alexander D Simms3Jennifer Davison4Rachel Tarrant5Stephen Halpin6Nick Preston7Diana Whiteside8Alexander Casson97 Academic Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK3Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust, Leeds, , United Kingdomassociate clinical professorCentre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK4Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust, Leeds, , United Kingdom4Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust, Leeds, , United KingdomAcademic Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UKAcademic Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UKLong COVID Rehabilitation Service, Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust, Leeds, UKAcademic Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UKIntroduction Long COVID (LC), also known as post-COVID-19 syndrome, refers to symptoms persisting 12 weeks after COVID-19 infection. It affects up to one in seven people contracting the illness and causes a wide range of symptoms, including fatigue, breathlessness, palpitations, dizziness, pain and brain fog. Many of these symptoms can be linked to dysautonomia or dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system after SARS-CoV2 infection. This study aims to test the feasibility and estimate the efficacy, of the heart rate variability biofeedback (HRV-B) technique via a standardised slow diaphragmatic breathing programme in individuals with LC.Methods and analysis 30 adult LC patients with symptoms of palpitations or dizziness and an abnormal NASA Lean Test will be selected from a specialist Long COVID rehabilitation service. They will undergo a 4-week HRV-B intervention using a Polar chest strap device linked to the Elite HRV phone application while undertaking the breathing exercise technique for two 10 min periods everyday for at least 5 days a week. Quantitative data will be gathered during the study period using: HRV data from the chest strap and wrist-worn Fitbit, the modified COVID-19 Yorkshire Rehabilitation Scale, Composite Autonomic Symptom Score, WHO Disability Assessment Schedule and EQ-5D-5L health-related quality of life measures. Qualitative feedback on user experience and feasibility of using the technology in a home setting will also be gathered. Standard statistical tests for correlation and significant difference will be used to analyse the quantitate data.Ethics and dissemination The study has received ethical approval from Health Research Authority (HRA) Leicester South Research Ethics Committee (21/EM/0271). Dissemination plans include academic and lay publications.Trial registration number NCT05228665.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/12/11/e066044.full |
| spellingShingle | Rory J O'Connor Joanna Corrado Manoj Sivan Alexander D Simms Jennifer Davison Rachel Tarrant Stephen Halpin Nick Preston Diana Whiteside Alexander Casson HEART rate variability biofeedback for long COVID symptoms (HEARTLOC): protocol for a feasibility study BMJ Open |
| title | HEART rate variability biofeedback for long COVID symptoms (HEARTLOC): protocol for a feasibility study |
| title_full | HEART rate variability biofeedback for long COVID symptoms (HEARTLOC): protocol for a feasibility study |
| title_fullStr | HEART rate variability biofeedback for long COVID symptoms (HEARTLOC): protocol for a feasibility study |
| title_full_unstemmed | HEART rate variability biofeedback for long COVID symptoms (HEARTLOC): protocol for a feasibility study |
| title_short | HEART rate variability biofeedback for long COVID symptoms (HEARTLOC): protocol for a feasibility study |
| title_sort | heart rate variability biofeedback for long covid symptoms heartloc protocol for a feasibility study |
| url | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/12/11/e066044.full |
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