EMPLOYING THE VENDYS DIGITAL THERMAL MONITORING AND HAIR SAMPLES TO DETERMINE THE EFFECTS OF LONG COVID ON ENDOTHELIAL FUNCTION AND CORTISOL LEVELS IN COLLEGE STUDENTS
Le, Hannah
Le, Hannah
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2025-05-19
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Abstract
The long-term effects of COVID-19, commonly referred to as long COVID, have generated increasing concern regarding its impact on cardiovascular health and chronic stress regulation. While much of the existing research has focused on older adults or individuals with pre-existing conditions, young adults, particularly college students, remain an understudied population in this area. Given the unique physiological and psychological stressors that students experience, it is critical to explore whether long COVID contributes to measurable changes in stress biomarkers and vascular function, both of which have implications for long-term health outcomes.
This study aims to examine the relationship between long COVID, cortisol levels, and endothelial function in college students by utilizing two key physiological assessment methods: the VENDYS II Digital Thermal Monitoring (DTM) system to evaluate endothelial function and hair cortisol analysis to assess chronic stress levels. The study included participants who self-reported long COVID symptoms and those who did not, allowing for comparative analysis between the two groups. The primary outcome measures were cortisol levels, which provide insight into prolonged activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis due to chronic stress, and the vascular reactivity index (VRI), which serves as a marker of endothelial function and overall cardiovascular health.
Findings from this study indicate that students with long COVID exhibited higher cortisol levels compared to their counterparts without long COVID, suggesting a prolonged physiological stress response. However, while an upward trend in cortisol levels was observed, statistical significance was not reached (p = 0.08), potentially due to sample size limitations or variability in individual stress responses. More strikingly, the vascular reactivity index was significantly lower in the long COVID group (p = 0.05), indicating compromised endothelial function. This finding is particularly concerning as impaired endothelial function is an early marker of cardiovascular disease, suggesting that even in a young, otherwise healthy population, long COVID may contribute to long-term vascular impairment.
These results underscore the necessity for early detection, lifestyle modifications, and targeted interventions to mitigate both cardiovascular and stress-related risks in young adults recovering from COVID-19. Given the increasing prevalence of long COVID and its potential to affect daily functioning, college students may benefit from institutional policies that incorporate screening measures, mental health support, and education on stress management and cardiovascular health. Nurses play a pivotal role in addressing these concerns through patient education, advocacy, and the development of care strategies aimed at minimizing long COVID-related complications.
Future research should focus on expanding sample sizes to improve statistical power, incorporating additional biomarkers to enhance the understanding of long COVID's physiological impact, and conducting longitudinal studies to determine whether observed vascular and stress-related impairments persist over time or improve with targeted interventions. Understanding the long-term effects of long COVID in young adults will be essential for developing effective public health strategies and ensuring that this population receives appropriate medical and psychological support.
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Nursing