Physical exercise as a treatment for persisting symptoms post-COVID infection: review of ongoing studies and prospective randomized controlled training study.

Autor: Kogel A; Klinik und Poliklinik für Kardiologie, Universitätsklinikum Leipzig, Liebigstr. 20, 04103, Leipzig, Germany., Machatschek M; Klinik und Poliklinik für Kardiologie, Universitätsklinikum Leipzig, Liebigstr. 20, 04103, Leipzig, Germany., Scharschmidt R; Zentrale Einrichtung für Physikalische Therapie und Rehabilitation, Universitätsklinikum Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany., Wollny C; Zentrale Einrichtung für Physikalische Therapie und Rehabilitation, Universitätsklinikum Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany., Lordick F; Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik 2-Onkologie, Gastroenterologie, Hepatologie, Pneumologie, Infektiologie, Universitätsklinikum Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany., Ghanem M; Zentrale Einrichtung für Physikalische Therapie und Rehabilitation, Universitätsklinikum Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.; Klinik und Poliklinik für Orthopädie, Unfallchirurgie und Plastische Chirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany., Laufs U; Klinik und Poliklinik für Kardiologie, Universitätsklinikum Leipzig, Liebigstr. 20, 04103, Leipzig, Germany., Fikenzer S; Klinik und Poliklinik für Kardiologie, Universitätsklinikum Leipzig, Liebigstr. 20, 04103, Leipzig, Germany. sven.fikenzer@medizin.uni-leipzig.de.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Clinical research in cardiology : official journal of the German Cardiac Society [Clin Res Cardiol] 2023 Nov; Vol. 112 (11), pp. 1699-1709. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Sep 12.
DOI: 10.1007/s00392-023-02300-6
Abstrakt: Background and Purpose: No evidence-based treatment is available for patients with persisting symptoms post-COVID-19 infection. We hypothesized that physical exercise may represent a safe and effective treatment option for post-COVID.
Methods: We performed a systematic search of the literature that revealed a lack of randomized training studies in patients post-COVID. Based on these findings, a prospective randomized controlled study with open-label and blinded endpoint evaluation was designed. 272 patients with symptoms of fatigue persisting over 6 weeks post-COVID infection were screened. Patients with pathological cardiovascular findings were excluded. 57 patients consented and were randomized to 4 weeks of supervised personalized strength and endurance training or usual care. The follow-up period was 3 and 6 months.
Results: There were no adverse events related to the training. Spiroergometry of the training group showed a significantly higher increase in VO2peak (10.0 ± 12.7% vs. 0.1 ± 8.9%, p < 0.01, respectively) and oxygen pulse (9.8 ± 10.8% vs. 0.0 ± 13.9%, p < 0.05, respectively). Parameters of the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory-20, McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire, and Post-COVID-19 Functional Status were improved after 4 weeks in both groups. In the follow-up period, the total physical activity per week was significantly greater in the exercise group than in controls (1280 ± 1192 min vs. 644 ± 554 min, p < 0.05, respectively). The improvements in fatigue and quality of life were not statistically different between the training and usual care groups.
Conclusion: Exercise is safe and improves maximal exercise capacity in post-COVID patients. Fatigue and quality of life improve over time in individuals that are willing to participate in a training study irrespective of their allocation.
Registration: German Clinical Trials Register: DRKS00026686. Date of registration: 27.09.2021.
(© 2023. The Author(s).)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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