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Introdução: Na linha de frente da pandemia da COVID-19 encontram-se os profissionais de saúde que realizam um intenso trabalho, incluindo os profissionais de enfermagem, que representam uma grande parcela entre os profissionais de saúde que atuam nas instituições de saúde e hospitalares. As altas pressões no ambiente de trabalho com elevadas cargas e jornadas aumentaram as demandas, devido à responsabilidade de suas atribuições. Este contexto pode trazer repercussões negativas para a prática da atividade física, saúde mental e percepção de qualidade de vida destes profissionais. Objetivo: Analisar a associação entre a prática de atividade física, saúde mental e a percepção da qualidade de vida em profissionais de enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto, SP durante a pandemia da COVID-19. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo transversal realizado com profissionais de enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto e região em 2021, por meio de formulário online na ferramenta Google Forms. Foram realizadas perguntas relacionadas aos dados sociodemográficos, atividade profissional, questionários para medir nível de atividade física e comportamento sedentário (IPAQ – versão curta), percepção da qualidade de vida (SF – 12v2) e saúde mental (DASS-21). Sobre a análise estatística, utilizou-se o teste Qui-quadrado para verificar a associação de duas variáveis categóricas entre si; teste t de Student para comparar duas médias e a ANOVA para comparar três médias provenientes de amostras não pareadas. O nível de significância foi de 5%. Resultados: Participaram do estudo 125 profissionais de enfermagem, sendo auxiliares, técnicos, enfermeiros(as) e enfermeiros(as) coordenadores(as). Desses, 79,2% foram mulheres e 56% atuavam no setor privado, 34,4% estavam acima do peso e 29,6% com obesidade. Os profissionais que praticavam exercício físico ou esporte apresentaram menor risco de depressão (57,9% entre os que não praticavam, 47,9% entre os que praticavam um tipo e 18,2% entre os que praticavam dois ou mais tipos de exercício ou esporte, p = 0,04). Profissionais com moderado ou alto nível de atividade física e que praticavam exercícios físicos ou esportes, apresentaram melhor pontuação em diversos domínios e nos componentes físico e mental da qualidade de vida, quando comparados aos com baixo nível de atividade física e que não praticavam exercícios físicos ou esportes, respectivamente. Conclusão: Profissionais de enfermagem que relataram praticar mais exercícios físicos ou esporte apresentaram menor risco relacionado à saúde mental, e os que relataram nível moderado ou alto de atividade física apresentaram melhor percepção de qualidade de vida.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different protocols of moderate-intensity intermittent hypoxic training in patients who had recovered from COVID-19 on quality of life (QoL) and mental health. The sample of this clinical trial-controlled double-blind study consisted of 67 participants aged 30–69 years, who were organized randomly according to Normoxia, Hypoxia, Hypoxia Recovery or Control Group. Eight weeks of cycle ergometer training were performed with a frequency of three training sessions per week in normoxic or hypoxic conditions (with or without hypoxic recovery). Health-related QoL and Mental Health Status were evaluated by 12-Item Short Form Survey and Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale instruments, respectively. All training groups improved the QoL’s physical dimensions (Baseline–Post: Normoxia Group 42.1 (11.0)–48.7 (7.0), Hypoxia Group 46.9 (11.8)–53.5 (6.6) and Hypoxia Recovery Group 45.8 (9.2)–51.1 (5.3)) and mental dimensions (Baseline–Post: Normoxia Group 48.8 (7.9)–54.6 (4.6), Hypoxia Group 45.2 (7.7)–53.2 (3.8) and Hypoxia Recovery Group 46.5 (9.7)–52.0 (9.9)). Regarding mental health outcomes, all training groups decreased depressive symptoms (66.7% Normoxia, 31.2% Hypoxia Recovery and 31% Hypoxia groups), anxiety symptoms (46.5% Normoxia, 45.9% Hypoxia Recovery and 39.5% in the Hypoxia groups) and stress symptoms (40.6% Normoxia, 36.3% Hypoxia Recovery and 22.1% Hypoxia groups). Significant statistical difference was not found between groups. Normoxic and hypoxic training showed a similar effect on QoL and the mental health of Brazilian adults who had recovered from COVID-19.

Hypoxic exposure is safely associated with exercise for many pathological conditions, providing additional effects on health outcomes. COVID-19 is a new disease, so the physiological repercussions caused by exercise in affected patients and the safety of exposure to hypoxia in these conditions are still unknown. Due to the effects of the disease on the respiratory system and following the sequence of AEROBICOVID research work, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness, tolerance and acute safety of 24 bicycle training sessions performed under intermittent hypoxic conditions through analysis of peripheral oxyhemoglobin saturation (SpO2), heart rate (HR), rate of perceived exertion (RPE), blood lactate concentration ([La−]) and symptoms of acute mountain sickness in patients recovered from COVID-19. Participants were allocated to three training groups: the normoxia group (GN) remained in normoxia (inspired fraction of O2 (FiO2) of ∼20.9%, a city with 526 m altitude) for the entire session; the recovery hypoxia group (GHR) was exposed to hypoxia (FiO2 ∼13.5%, corresponding to 3,000 m altitude) all the time except during the effort; the hypoxia group (GH) trained in hypoxia (FiO2 ∼13.5%) throughout the session. The altitude simulation effectively reduced SpO2 mean with significant differences between groups GN, GHR, and GH, being 96.9(1.6), 95.1(3.1), and 87.7(6.5), respectively. Additionally, the proposed exercise and hypoxic stimulus was well-tolerated, since 93% of participants showed no or moderate acute mountain sickness symptoms; maintained nearly 80% of sets at target heart rate; and most frequently reporting session intensity as an RPE of “3” (moderate). The internal load calculation, analyzed through training impulse (TRIMP), calculated using HR [TRIMPHR = HR * training volume (min)] and RPE [TRIMPRPE = RPE * training volume (min)], showed no significant difference between groups. The current strategy effectively promoted the altitude simulation and monitoring variables, being well-tolerated and safely acute exposure, as the low Lake Louise scores and the stable HR, SpO2, and RPE values showed during the sessions.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, several late-onset impairments have been observed, affecting the health and functionality of those involved. On the other hand, lower SARS-CoV-2 infection rates and severity of symptoms were observed in high-altitude cities. In this sense, the AEROBICOVID project was developed with the hypothesis that exercise would be an important opportunity for health improvement and that hypoxia would promote additional benefits in the recovery process. The cohort was about 84 participants with approximately 30 days since the COVID-19 symptoms recovery, 25 in the control group, and 59 divided into three moderate physical training groups. The project had good results in teaching, research, and extension, but also faced difficulties in operationalization. This experience is the basis for future proposals through an extension project at the University of São Paulo and in a Family Health Unit, besides a research project that will develop a new low-cost hypoxia technology.