Although temperature measurements are widely used for screening COVID-19 patients at the mouths of many office buildings or malls, a new study suggests that a large spike in resting heart rate is a more sensitive symptom of the disease.
Physical data from commercial wearables showed an increase in resting heart rate around starter symptoms that were more severe for COVID-19, but also present in a milder form for the flu, the study published in the journal said. Patterns.
“It is surprising to see that there are many screening tests at all doors on temperature-based doors as not many people develop a fever immediately and there are so many things that can cause a fever in addition to COVID-19, “said lead author Luca Foschini, Co – Founder of US – based health and measurement company Evidation Health.
“A large spike in resting heart rate is a more sensitive sign of Covid. And for people with activity fans, you could ask them for permission to share that information for screening purposes, just like giving temperature reading. “
By analyzing Fitbit data and self-report symptoms, the researchers analyzed trends in heart rate, phase count, and symptom duration between patients with the flu and those with COVID-19. .
While both showed similar spikes in resting heart rate and a decrease in average step count, COVID-19 symptoms lasted longer and progressed further, the study said.
The findings confirmed that some other symptoms are common in Covid but not flu, such as shortness of breath and cough.
They also examined the effect of each illness on reducing daily step counts, finding that the effects lasted much longer for COVID than for the flu.
“We used step counting to measure change in movement, because you don’t move as much when you’re sick,” Foschini said.
“Compared to their baseline, the number of measures did not return to normal for people with COVID, even after three or four weeks.”
While data from wearables such as Fitbit may reveal much about these respiratory diseases, the researchers said it should be used as a general screening method, not a complete screening tool.