Viruses
Neuromuscular Phenotype in Long COVID Is Associated with Inflammation, Mineral Homeostasis, and Muscle Metabolism
By Camilla Costa Silva, Karina Carvalho Marques, Pablo Fabiano Moura das Neves and 10 others.
Abstract
Background
Neuromuscular dysfunction in long COVID remains poorly understood, and conventional biomarkers of muscle injury often fail to account for persistent symptoms. This study aimed to compare laboratory biomarkers and neuromuscular outcomes by sex, long COVID duration, and hospitalisation status, and examine the association between neuromuscular outcomes and laboratory biomarkers.
Methods
In this cross-sectional study, 153 adults with long COVID underwent clinical, body composition, handgrip strength, surface electromyography, and laboratory assessments, including creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), ferritin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), haemoglobin, sodium, potassium, and calcium. Analyses were stratified by sex, disease duration, and hospitalisation.