■长型COVID,也被称为后COVID-19综合征,其特征是多系统症状持续数周至数年,超过急性感染。它不成比例地影响女性和那些已经存在焦虑/抑郁的人,条件在女性中更为普遍。迷走神经,具有广泛的神经支配和对关键身体功能的调节,已成为治疗干预的焦点。经皮迷走神经刺激(t-VNS)已成为COVID-19疾病的一种有希望的非侵入性治疗方法。
■这项初步研究评估了t-VNS在24名女性长型COVID患者(45.8±11.7岁;感染后20.2±7.1个月)中的疗效,在家接受10天t-VNS干预的人(30分钟/次,一天两次)。认知被认为是主要结果,带着焦虑,抑郁症,睡眠,疲劳,和气味作为次要结果。结果在基线测量,干预后,和1个月的随访。
■观察到各种认知功能的显着改善,焦虑,抑郁症,干预后的睡眠,在1个月的随访中,福利剩余或进展。疲劳的改善被延迟,与基线相比,在1个月随访时达到统计学意义。嗅觉表现没有显著变化。
■这项初步研究提供了初步证据,支持t-VNS作为女性长型COVID患者治疗干预的潜力。令人鼓舞的结果证明了通过更大规模的进一步严格调查,证实t-VNS疗效的随机对照试验,评估其对男性队列的普遍性,并探索生物标志物,为个性化治疗方法提供信息。我们的研究结果支持进行此类试验的资源分配,并促进对t-VNS作为长型COVID的潜在治疗方法的理解。
UNASSIGNED: Long COVID, also known as Post-COVID-19 syndrome, is characterized by multisystemic symptoms that persists for weeks to years beyond acute infection. It disproportionately affects women and those with pre-existing anxiety/depression, conditions more prevalent in females. The vagus nerve, with its extensive innervation and regulation of critical bodily functions, has become a focal point for therapeutic interventions. Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (t-VNS) has emerged as a promising non-invasive treatment for COVID-19 conditions.
UNASSIGNED: This pilot study assessed the efficacy of t-VNS in 24 female Long COVID patients (45.8 ± 11.7 years old; 20.2 ± 7.1 months since infection), who underwent a 10-day t-VNS intervention at home (30 min/session, twice a day). Cognition was considered the primary outcome, with anxiety, depression, sleep, fatigue, and smell as secondary outcomes. Outcomes were measured at baseline, post-intervention, and 1-month follow-up.
UNASSIGNED: Significant improvements were observed in various cognitive functions, anxiety, depression, and sleep at post-intervention, with benefits remaining or progressing at 1-month follow-up. Improvements in fatigue were delayed, reaching statistical significance at 1-month follow-up compared to baseline. No significant changes were noted in olfactory performance.
UNASSIGNED: This pilot study provides preliminary evidence supporting the potential of t-VNS as a therapeutic intervention for female Long COVID patients. The encouraging results justify further rigorous investigation through larger, randomized controlled trials to confirm the efficacy of t-VNS, assess its generalizability to male cohorts, and explore biological markers to inform personalized treatment approaches. Our findings support the allocation of resources to conduct such trials and advance the understanding of t-VNS as a potential treatment for Long COVID.