Evaluating The Benefits Of Exercise Training In Long-covid Patients: Iso-level Comparison

COVID-19 is a disease that can lead to symptoms that can persist for long periods and affect activities of daily living. It is well established that exercise training has beneficial effects on many diseases, and this study examines whether it has the same beneficial effects on the long-COVID-19. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a 6-week interdisciplinary rehabilitation with a focus on exercise training on individuals with long-COVID-19 symptoms. Objectives were to assess whether V̇O2peak, breathing pattern and other exercise parameters improved after the training, both in the group as a whole and in sub-groups with specific symptoms. METHODS: 64 participants (42 female), age 51.0 ± 12.7 years and BMI 29.4 ± 5.1 kg/m2, were assigned to different treatment groups according to their main symptoms: Fatigue (N = 26), dyspnea (N = 23), or mental distress (N = 15). They underwent a PFT and a CPX before and after the training. A V̇O2peak ISO-level comparison and 75% V̇O2peak ISO-level comparison were implemented. All participants took part in group education and a physical exercise training program individually tailored and had individualized therapies depending on their long COVID symptoms. RESULTS: PFT were normal on average, 3 patients had expiratory flow obstruction (FEV1/FVC ratio < 0.7). - PRE POST p-value Peak exercise (N = 64) V̇O2peak (% pred) 95 ± 22 103 ± 21 <0.001 V̇O2peak (ml/min/kg) 21.3 ± 5.3 23.3 ± 5.8 <0.001 V̇Epeak (L/min) 65.5 ± 16.9 72.9 ± 22.4 <0.001 VTpeak (L) 2.08 ± 0.60 2.27 ± 0.65 <0.001 fpeak (bpm) 32.7 ± 7.7 32.6 ± 6.8 0.992 V̇O2peak-ISO-level (N = 50) V̇E ISO- V̇O2 (L/min) 65.1 ± 16.2 61.8 ± 15.1 0.056 VT ISO- V̇O2 (L) 2.12 ± 0.62 2.22 ± 0.64 0.009 f ISO- V̇O2 (bpm) 31.9 ± 7.0 28.7 ± 6.1 0.013 The 75% ISO-V̇O2 comparison also showed improvements in V̇CO2, V̇E, and f. Benefits of the exercise training were similar in all symptom’s groups. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, a 6-week rehabilitation program with a focus on exercise training had a beneficial effect on individuals with long-term COVID-19 symptoms independently of their main symptoms. The results indicate that training improves exercise capacity, metabolism, and breathing efficiency, which eventually can lead to less fatigue and dyspnea. Reykjalundur Research Fund