Metabolomic spittle analysis of post COVID-19 patients

Abstract

Post COVID-19 patients have been suffering from persistent symptoms even after long periods. The physiopathology of these clinical manifestations still has a lack of knowledge. The objective was to evaluate the total expression of metabolites and spittle biological pathways in patients with 60 days post COVID-19. We included 30 post-hospital discharge patients and we compared seven non COVID-19 patients control. All COVID-19 patients were assessed by demographic characteristics, pulmonary function, exercise capacity, quality of life and body composition. The metabolomic analysis was performed in the patient’s splits. From the total of post COVID-19 patients, 66% were male, 60±14 years. The lean body mass was 30±7kg and fat mass 34±13kg. Spirometry mean severity showed FVC of 4±1L, FEV1 3±1L. Pimax and Pemax values were 90±31(cmH2O) and 97±31(cmH2O), respectively. The quality of life evaluated by the SGRQ questionnaire showed a mean percentage of magnitude of symptoms 32±15, activities 41±25, impact 13±11 and total of 24±15. Physical capacity was measured by the distance in the 6MWT, and presented an average of 413±131. The metabolomic analysis showed 19 metabolites statistically significant difference between groups. We observed 3 metabolites overexpressed and 16 with lower expression in post COVID-19 patients. From those metabolites, we can have attention to Sphinganine(p=0.03), Piperenol A triacetate(p=0.02) and 1-Monopalmitin(p=0.03) were lower expressed in control group. The creatin was one of the non-expressed metabolites in post hospital discharge COVID-19 patients compared to the control group. Thus, metabolomic analysis can demonstrate different metabolites in post COVID-19 patients to answer persistent symptoms.