Dynamics of interleukin 6 and its soluble receptor levels during 30-day rehabilitation after pneumonia according to the aerobic training program

Objective. To perform an analysis of the level of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and its soluble receptor (sIL-6R) when using aerobic physical exertion as a rehabilitation regimen after pneumonia. Materials and methods. The study included 62 patients: after COVID-19-associated pneumonia (SARS-CoV-2 «Omicron» variant (C-AP), n=40) and bacterial community-acquired pneumonia (BCAP, n=22) at the stage of a 30-day recovery under an aerobic physical exertion (APE) program (n=28) or traditional regimen (control, n=34 at the initial stage and n=28 at the end of follow-up). Dynamics of the content of interleukin-6 (IL-6), its soluble receptor (sIL-6R) and pulmonary function parameters were evaluated. Results. APE aimed at rehabilitation is characterized by a lower final blood concentration of sIL-6R in patients with history of BCAP (p=0.0002, effect size (ES)=2.78) and C-AP (p=0.005, ES=1.1), loss of correlation with C-reactive protein level, increase in vital capacity (in men p=0.002; in women p=0.01), forced vital capacity (in men p=0.005; in women p=0.011) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (in men p=0.009; in women p=0.009) compared to the control. Conclusion. Aerobic exercise is a more effective rehabilitation regimen and associated with a lower total sIL-6R value in the blood after pneumonia.