Background. Some months after the remission of acute COVID-19 infection, some people show depressive symptoms, which are predicted by increased peak body temperature (PBT) and lowered blood oxygen saturation (SpO2). Nevertheless, no data indicate whether Long COVID is associated with increased insulin resistance (IR) in association with depressive symptoms and immune, oxidative, and nitrosative (IO&NS) processes. Methods. We used the homeostasis Model Assessment 2 (HOMA2) calculator to compute beta-cell function, insulin sensitivity and resistance (HOMA2-IR) and measured the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) in 86 Long COVID patients and 39 controls. We examined the associations between the HOMA2 indices and PBT and SpO2 during acute infection, and depression, IO&NS biomarkers (C-reactive protein, NLRP3 activation, myeloperoxidase, and advanced oxidation protein products) 3-4 months after the acute infection. Results. Long COVID is accompanied by increased HOMA2-IR, fasting blood glucose, and insulin levels. We found that 33.7% of the patients versus 0% of the controls had HOMA2-IR values >1.8, suggesting IR. PBT, but not SpO2, during acute infection significantly predicted IR, albeit with a small effect size. Increased IR was significantly associated with depressive symptoms as assessed with the BDI and HAMD above and beyond the effects of IO&NS pathways. There were no significant associations between increased IR and the activated IO&NS pathways during Long COVID. Conclusion. Long COVID is associated with new-onset IR in a subset of patients. Increased IR may contribute to the onset of depressive symptoms due to Long COVID by enhancing overall neurotoxicity.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.