Notably, the authors found that people who later had persistent COVID-19 symptoms following acute infectionsâ€”or long COVIDâ€”had higher resting heart rates (RHRs; mean difference, 2.37 beats per minute) and lower daily step counts (mean, 3,030 fewer steps), at least 3 weeks prior to SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to negative controls.

The article from CIDRAP discusses a study that utilized smartwatch data to identify early signs of long COVID. Researchers found that individuals who later developed long COVID exhibited higher resting heart rates and increased sedentary behavior in the weeks following their initial SARS-CoV-2 infection. This study, which analyzed data from the Apple Heart and Movement Study, suggests that these physiological changes could serve as early indicators of long-term health issues post-COVID. The findings highlight the potential of wearable technology in monitoring health metrics to predict and possibly mitigate the effects of long COVID, offering insights into the physiological impacts of the virus even after the acute phase of the infection has passed.

Read the Full CIDRAP Article at:
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/higher-heart-rate-and-inactivity-smartwatch-data-show-early-signs-long-covid

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