At-home telemedicine controlled taVNS twice daily for 4 weeks reduces long COVID symptoms of anxiety and fatigue
Year: 2021
Type: article
Abstract: Introduction: Coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) can enter and directly infect the brain, with myriad neurologic and psychiatric problems. After recovery from the acute infection, many patients struggle with residual neuropsychiatric symptoms (called Long Covid), including fatigue, anxiety and depression. Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) is non-invasive and has anti-inflammatory functions that might treat Long Covid. Methods: In this pilot study (Dec 2020 to July 2021), we enrolled 13 subjects who were previously COVID positive and developed at least one new neuropsychiatric symptom after acute COVID infection (anxiety, depression, vertigo, anosmia, headaches, fatigue, irritability, or impaired cognitive processing). Subjects were screened via telemedicine, and the device and monitoring kit were shipped to their homes. They never physically encountered the research team. Subjects self-administered taVNS twice daily, six days/week, for an initial 2-week double blind phase followed by an additional two weeks of active, open treatment. Thus, subjects received either 24 or 48 actual sessions of taVNS over 4 weeks. Results: Randomized data remains blinded at abstract deadline. Overall, 72.7% of participants reported anxiety as a symptom at the initial visit. After 4 weeks (blinded and open label phases), only 25% reported anxiety. Average scores on the GAD-7 anxiety scale progressively decreased over the course of the study (13.7±7.4 at initial visit, 8.6±6.3 immediately after blinded phase (2 wks), and 3.4±4.2 at end of the open phase (4wks)). Measures of stress and fatigue also decreased over 4 weeks. Unblinded data will be presented at the conference. Conclusions: At home taVNS may reduce anxiety and improve stress and fatigue. Initial results support further at home taVNS studies to treat Long Covid and potentially other neuroinflammatory disorders or primary anxiety disorders. Keywords: taVNS, Long COVID, Anxiety, Telemedicine
Source: Brain stimulation
Institution: Medical University of South Carolina
Language: English
Subfield: Neurology
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,310
OpenAlex ID: W3214798510