1. Longer ICU stay and invasive mechanical ventilation accelerate telomere shortening in COVID-19 patients 1 year after recovery.
- Author
-
Virseda-Berdices A, Behar-Lagares R, Martínez-González O, Blancas R, Bueno-Bustos S, Brochado-Kith O, Manteiga E, Mallol Poyato MJ, López Matamala B, Martín Parra C, Resino S, Jiménez-Sousa MÁ, and Fernández-Rodríguez A
- Subjects
- Humans, Male, Female, Middle Aged, Aged, Longitudinal Studies, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 therapy, COVID-19 complications, Intensive Care Units organization & administration, Intensive Care Units statistics & numerical data, Telomere Shortening physiology, Respiration, Artificial, Length of Stay statistics & numerical data
- Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes virus-induced-senescence. There is an association between shorter telomere length (TL) in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients and hospitalization, severity, or even death. However, it remains unknown whether virus-induced-senescence is reversible. We aim to evaluate the dynamics of TL in COVID-19 patients 1 year after recovery from intensive care units (ICU). Longitudinal study enrolling 49 patients admitted to ICU due to COVID-19 (August 2020 to April 2021). Relative telomere length (RTL) quantification was carried out in whole blood by monochromatic multiplex real-time quantitative PCR (MMqPCR) assay at hospitalization (baseline) and 1 year after discharge (1-year visit). The association between RTL and ICU length of stay (LOS), invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), prone position, and pulmonary fibrosis development at 1-year visit was evaluated. The median age was 60 years, 71.4% were males, median ICU-LOS was 12 days, 73.5% required IMV, and 38.8% required a prone position. Patients with longer ICU-LOS or who required IMV showed greater RTL shortening during follow-up. Patients who required pronation had a greater RTL shortening during follow-up. IMV patients who developed pulmonary fibrosis showed greater RTL reduction and shorter RTL at the 1-year visit. Patients with longer ICU-LOS and those who required IMV had a shorter RTL in peripheral blood, as observed 1 year after hospital discharge. Additionally, patients who required IMV and developed pulmonary fibrosis had greater telomere shortening, showing shorter telomeres at the 1-year visit. These patients may be more prone to develop cellular senescence and lung-related complications; therefore, closer monitoring may be needed., (© 2024. The Author(s).)
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF