Despite the controversy, on October 6, 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) recognized Long Coronavirus disease (COVID) by officially defining it: " symptoms appeared 3 months after the onset of the primary infection by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), persisting for at least 2 months and which cannot be explained by any other condition ". Long COVID can affects any type of patient and has polymorphic and fluctuating symptoms over time.
The Reunion Island is a French overseas department located in the Indian Ocean accounting more than 860,000 inhabitants. It has recorded since March 11, 2020, nearly 491,825 cases of COVID-19 and 961 deaths of hospitalized patients. Reunion's population is multi-ethnic and younger than the metropolitan France's one. It also has a higher prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes, two serious form factors of COVID-19. This specific context makes this island a particular study site for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and Long COVID.
In addition, some studies have confirmed the involvement of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) in the symptomatology of Long COVID and demonstrated that patients with a Long COVID present a dysfunction of their ANS which is objectified by a reduced Heart Rate Variability (HRV). The regulation of heart rate by the ANS is strongly favored by respiration. A regular slow and deep breathing training helps to adjust the baroreflex, which connect heart rate, breathing and blood pressure. The result of this training is an induced state called "cardiac coherence" (CC).
The investigator therefore hypothesize that respiratory training to CC could "re-educate" the ANS and durably improve the symptomatology of patients with Long COVID.
Patients over the age of 18,
living in Reunion and
having a diagnosis of Long COVID according to the World Health Organization (WHO) definition will be included in this study.
These patients must attest to their primary infection with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and present a negative antigen test at the time of inclusion.
with a chronic or disabling respiratory pathology preventing respiratory training (asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), active tuberculosis, pulmonary sequelae of COVID-19, etc.) practicing or having practiced a regular respiratory control technique (yoga, Cardiac coherence training, etc.) in the last 6 months
taking a beta-blocker, betamimetic, anti-arrhythmic, morphine, antidepressant treatment (Escitalopram)
having a pacemaker or severe heart disease
Current and known pregnancy or breastfeeding woman
Parallel
Cardiac coherence
Other interventionUse of Cardiac coherence (complementary respiratory training) during 6 month
Evaluation of the effectiveness of a respiratory training to cardiac coherence on the reduction in the symptomatology of patients with Long COVID.
mean score on the Long COVID Symptom Tool (ST) scale Score 0 to 53 / Higher score mean worse outcome
Evaluation of the effectiveness of a respiratory training to cardiac coherence on the decrease of overall symptoms over time
Long COVID Symptom Tool (ST) scale Score 0 to 53 / Higher score mean worse outcome
Evaluation of the effectiveness of a respiratory training to cardiac coherence on the decrease of specifics symptoms : fatigue
The 11-item Chalder Fatigue Scale (CFS-11) score 0 to 11 / Higher score mean worse outcome
Evaluation of the effectiveness of a respiratory training to cardiac coherence on the decrease of specifics symptoms : dyspnoea
Modified Medical Research Council (MMRC) dyspnoea scale score 0 to 5 / Higher score mean worse outcome
Evaluation of the effectiveness of a respiratory training to cardiac coherence on the decrease of specifics symptoms : Anxiety and Depression
Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADS) Score 0 to 42 / Higher score mean worse outcome
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