Effects of a randomized-controlled and online-supported physical activity intervention on exercise capacity, fatigue and health related quality of life in patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome
Abstract Background The Post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS), which can occur after acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection, leads to restrictions in everyday activity. Our study assessed the impact of an online-guided intervention which intended to facilitate physical activity on the mental and...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-02-01
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| Series: | BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-024-00817-5 |
| _version_ | 1827326513066803200 |
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| author | Arno Kerling Sebastian Beyer Meike Dirks Michèle Scharbau Ann-Katrin Hennemann Alexandra Dopfer-Jablonka Viktoria Lampe Jakob Heinrich Wolfgang Salzmann Uwe Tegtbur Nora Drick Isabell Pink Sven Haufe |
| author_facet | Arno Kerling Sebastian Beyer Meike Dirks Michèle Scharbau Ann-Katrin Hennemann Alexandra Dopfer-Jablonka Viktoria Lampe Jakob Heinrich Wolfgang Salzmann Uwe Tegtbur Nora Drick Isabell Pink Sven Haufe |
| author_sort | Arno Kerling |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The Post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS), which can occur after acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection, leads to restrictions in everyday activity. Our study assessed the impact of an online-guided intervention which intended to facilitate physical activity on the mental and physical capability of PCS patients. Methods We randomized 62 patients with PCS (20 male/ 42 female; age: 46 ± 12 years; body mass index: 28.7 ± 6.7 kg/m2) with a score ≥ 22 in the fatigue assessment scale (FAS) to a 3-month exercise-focused intervention (IG n = 30) or control period (CG n = 32). We assessed changes in exercise capacity (bicycle exercise test with measurements of gas exchange), fatigue, markers of health-related quality of life (HrQoL) and mental health. Results The FAS score decreased significantly in both study groups (IG: 35.1 ± 7.4 to 31.8 ± 8.5 points; CG: 35.6 ± 7.4 to 32.6 ± 7.5 points, both p < 0.01). Exercise capacity did not increase in the CG or IG (within-group changes for IG: peak oxygen uptake: 0.9 ± 2.6 ml/min/kg, p = 0.098; peak power output: 6.1 ± 17.8 W, p = 0.076) with no significant changes in HrQoL and work ability. Patients with a FAS score at baseline ≥ 35 (severe fatigue) showed no change in exercise capacity with the 3-month intervention whereas the sub-group of patients with FAS < 35 points (moderate fatigue) showed improvements, independent of the study group. Conclusions Our 3-month intervention seems appropriate for patients with moderate fatigue, whereas those with more severe fatigue appear to be too restricted with respect to their mental or physical health status to perform exercise at a level which is sufficient to improve markers of physical performance. Trial registration German Clinical Trials Register (registration trial number: DRKS00026245) on September 2 2021. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:46:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-632cec2a9ad14f22af4ef7fb3adac2a6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2052-1847 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:46:40Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation |
| spelling | doaj.art-632cec2a9ad14f22af4ef7fb3adac2a62024-03-05T19:55:16ZengBMCBMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation2052-18472024-02-0116111010.1186/s13102-024-00817-5Effects of a randomized-controlled and online-supported physical activity intervention on exercise capacity, fatigue and health related quality of life in patients with post-COVID-19 syndromeArno Kerling0Sebastian Beyer1Meike Dirks2Michèle Scharbau3Ann-Katrin Hennemann4Alexandra Dopfer-Jablonka5Viktoria Lampe6Jakob Heinrich Wolfgang Salzmann7Uwe Tegtbur8Nora Drick9Isabell Pink10Sven Haufe11Clinic for Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, Hannover Medical SchoolClinic for Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, Hannover Medical SchoolClinic for Neurology, Hannover Medical SchoolDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Hannover Medical SchoolClinic for Neurology, Hannover Medical SchoolDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, Hannover Medical SchoolClinic for Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, Hannover Medical SchoolClinic for Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, Hannover Medical SchoolClinic for Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, Hannover Medical SchoolDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Hannover Medical SchoolDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Hannover Medical SchoolClinic for Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, Hannover Medical SchoolAbstract Background The Post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS), which can occur after acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection, leads to restrictions in everyday activity. Our study assessed the impact of an online-guided intervention which intended to facilitate physical activity on the mental and physical capability of PCS patients. Methods We randomized 62 patients with PCS (20 male/ 42 female; age: 46 ± 12 years; body mass index: 28.7 ± 6.7 kg/m2) with a score ≥ 22 in the fatigue assessment scale (FAS) to a 3-month exercise-focused intervention (IG n = 30) or control period (CG n = 32). We assessed changes in exercise capacity (bicycle exercise test with measurements of gas exchange), fatigue, markers of health-related quality of life (HrQoL) and mental health. Results The FAS score decreased significantly in both study groups (IG: 35.1 ± 7.4 to 31.8 ± 8.5 points; CG: 35.6 ± 7.4 to 32.6 ± 7.5 points, both p < 0.01). Exercise capacity did not increase in the CG or IG (within-group changes for IG: peak oxygen uptake: 0.9 ± 2.6 ml/min/kg, p = 0.098; peak power output: 6.1 ± 17.8 W, p = 0.076) with no significant changes in HrQoL and work ability. Patients with a FAS score at baseline ≥ 35 (severe fatigue) showed no change in exercise capacity with the 3-month intervention whereas the sub-group of patients with FAS < 35 points (moderate fatigue) showed improvements, independent of the study group. Conclusions Our 3-month intervention seems appropriate for patients with moderate fatigue, whereas those with more severe fatigue appear to be too restricted with respect to their mental or physical health status to perform exercise at a level which is sufficient to improve markers of physical performance. Trial registration German Clinical Trials Register (registration trial number: DRKS00026245) on September 2 2021.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-024-00817-5ExerciseMental healthPhysical performanceSARS-CoV-2Telerehabilitation |
| spellingShingle | Arno Kerling Sebastian Beyer Meike Dirks Michèle Scharbau Ann-Katrin Hennemann Alexandra Dopfer-Jablonka Viktoria Lampe Jakob Heinrich Wolfgang Salzmann Uwe Tegtbur Nora Drick Isabell Pink Sven Haufe Effects of a randomized-controlled and online-supported physical activity intervention on exercise capacity, fatigue and health related quality of life in patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation Exercise Mental health Physical performance SARS-CoV-2 Telerehabilitation |
| title | Effects of a randomized-controlled and online-supported physical activity intervention on exercise capacity, fatigue and health related quality of life in patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome |
| title_full | Effects of a randomized-controlled and online-supported physical activity intervention on exercise capacity, fatigue and health related quality of life in patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome |
| title_fullStr | Effects of a randomized-controlled and online-supported physical activity intervention on exercise capacity, fatigue and health related quality of life in patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of a randomized-controlled and online-supported physical activity intervention on exercise capacity, fatigue and health related quality of life in patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome |
| title_short | Effects of a randomized-controlled and online-supported physical activity intervention on exercise capacity, fatigue and health related quality of life in patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome |
| title_sort | effects of a randomized controlled and online supported physical activity intervention on exercise capacity fatigue and health related quality of life in patients with post covid 19 syndrome |
| topic | Exercise Mental health Physical performance SARS-CoV-2 Telerehabilitation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-024-00817-5 |
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