Article Impact Level: HIGH Data Quality: STRONG Summary of The American Journal of Medicine, S0002934324004704. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjmed.2024.07.008 Dr. Tianna Zhou et al.
Points
- The Yale LISTEN Study analyzed the prevalence and impact of internal tremors and vibrations among 423 adults suffering from long COVID, surveyed between May 2022 and June 2023.
- The median age was 46, with a majority of females (74%) and non-Hispanic Whites (87%). Of the participants, 37% reported experiencing internal tremors or vibrations.
- Individuals with internal tremors reported significantly poorer health outcomes on the Euro-QoL visual analog scale, with lower median scores than those without such symptoms.
- This subgroup exhibited higher incidences of new-onset mast cell disorders and neurological conditions compared to those without internal tremors.
- The study highlights a distinct subgroup within the long COVID population with specific symptoms, suggesting the need for specialized management strategies and targeted therapeutic interventions.
Summary
This retrospective analysis of the Yale Listen to Immune, Symptom, and Treatment Experiences Now (LISTEN) Study investigated the prevalence and impact of internal tremors and vibrations among individuals suffering from long COVID. The study encompassed 423 adults surveyed between May 12, 2022, and June 1, 2023, focusing on these specific symptoms as part of the broader spectrum of long COVID manifestations. It aimed to delineate differences in pre-pandemic comorbidities, new-onset conditions, and overall quality of life between long COVID sufferers with and without these internal sensations.
The median age of participants was 46 years, with a majority being female (74%) and Non-Hispanic White (87%). Of these, 37% (158 individuals) reported experiencing internal tremors or vibrations. When comparing this subgroup to those without such symptoms, there were no significant differences in pre-pandemic comorbidities. However, those experiencing internal tremors reported significantly poorer health outcomes on the Euro-QoL visual analog scale, with median scores of 40 [IQR, 30-60] versus 50 [IQR, 35-62] (P = 0.007). Additionally, this group showed higher incidences of new-onset mast cell disorders (11% [95% CI, 7.1-18] versus 2.6% [1.2-5.6], P = 0.008) and neurological conditions (22% [95% CI, 16-29] versus 8.3% [5.4-12], P = 0.004).
The findings underscore a distinct subgroup within the long COVID population characterized by internal tremors and vibrations associated with a significantly deteriorated health status and a greater prevalence of specific new-onset conditions. This suggests that individuals with such symptoms may require specialized management strategies to address their unique clinical needs, highlighting the need for targeted therapeutic interventions in this population.
Link to the article: https://www.amjmed.com/article/S0002-9343(24)00470-4/fulltext
References Zhou, T., Sawano, M., Arun, A. S., Caraballo, C., Michelsen, T., McAlpine, L. S., Bhattacharjee, B., Lu, Y., Khera, R., Huang, C., Warner, F., Herrin, J., Iwasaki, A., & Krumholz, H. M. (2024). Internal tremors and vibrations in long COVID: A cross-sectional study. The American Journal of Medicine, S0002934324004704. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjmed.2024.07.008
