Understanding Long-COVID: An Integrated Analysis of Physiological Responses - A cross-sectional study

The global impact of COVID-19, with approximately 771 million cases and 6.9 million deaths (as of October 2023), is profound. Long-COVID or post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), is attributed to infection by the coronavirus-19 and currently affects approximately 65 million individuals globally. It presents as a complex, multisystem condition with persisting, worsening, or fluctuating symptoms that are unexplainable by alternative diagnoses. While current research primarily focuses on the impact of COVID-19 on individual body systems dysfunction, comprehensive insights into understanding the mechanisms of dysfunctions are still evolving. My thesis aims to 1) take a multimodal and integrative approach by simultaneously collecting data from four different body systems - cardiovascular, respiratory, autonomic, and skeletal muscle oxygenation systems - in individuals with long-COVID and 2) observe compensatory or non-compensatory dynamics in the interactions between these systems through active postural changes (i.e.: lying to standing). The use of an integrated analysis will provide a more comprehensive understanding of the physiological mechanisms of system dysfunction in long-COVID, ultimately equipping healthcare practioners and clinicians in the better management and potential treatment development of the disease.