1. Effects of a cardiopulmonary rehabilitation protocol on functional capacity, dyspnea, fatigue, and body composition in individuals with post‐COVID‐19 syndrome: A randomized controlled trial.
- Author
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Gomes dos Santos, Ewerton Graziane, Vieira da Costa, Karina, Cordeiro de Souza, Iara Tainá, Victor dos Santos Felix, João, Furtado Brandão, Celso Brendo, Michelle de Souza Fernandes, Vanessa, Lugon Favero, Andressa Bomfim, Lucrécia de Aquino Gouveia, Maria, Tavares de Lima, Dyego, Heriston de Morais Lima, José, Pedrosa, Rafaela, Alves de Oliveira, Valéria Mayaly, da Cruz Santos, Amilton, Gama, Tatiana Onofre, Guedes de Brito, Geraldo Eduardo, and Tenório de França, Eduardo Eriko
- Subjects
MEDICAL protocols ,MYALGIA ,ACADEMIC medical centers ,BODY mass index ,DATA analysis ,QUALITATIVE research ,PATIENTS ,CHEST pain ,FATIGUE (Physiology) ,BODY composition ,POST-acute COVID-19 syndrome ,STATISTICAL sampling ,HOSPITAL care ,HOSPITAL admission & discharge ,FUNCTIONAL status ,RANDOMIZED controlled trials ,BIOELECTRIC impedance ,DESCRIPTIVE statistics ,CHI-squared test ,QUANTITATIVE research ,CARDIOPULMONARY system ,MUSCLE strength ,LUNG diseases ,MEDICAL rehabilitation ,EXERCISE tolerance ,RESPIRATORY measurements ,AEROBIC exercises ,STATISTICS ,DYSPNEA ,AIRWAY (Anatomy) ,EXERCISE tests ,DATA analysis software ,CONFIDENCE intervals ,SMELL disorders ,AGEUSIA ,CARDIAC rehabilitation ,MEMORY disorders - Abstract
Background and Objective: Reduced functional capacity, dyspnea, fatigue, and changes in body composition are common in patients with post‐COVID‐19 syndrome (PCS), and cardiopulmonary rehabilitation may improve these parameters. Thus, the present study verified the effects of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation (respiratory, aerobic, and resistance muscle training) on submaximal exercise tolerance, dyspnea, fatigue, and body composition. Methods: This controlled and randomized clinical trial applied a six‐week outpatient intervention protocol in individuals over 18 years old (n = 33) with a diagnosis of COVID‐19 confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. These individuals were allocated to cardiopulmonary rehabilitation (n = 17) or control groups (i.e., educational lectures; n = 16). The cardiopulmonary rehabilitation group performed respiratory, aerobic, and resistance muscle training. Submaximal exercise tolerance, dyspnea, fatigue, and body composition were assessed before and after the protocol. Results: After 6 weeks, the cardiopulmonary rehabilitation group increased the tolerance to submaximal exercise, with a difference of 100.46 m (95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.40–193 m) in the distance walked on the six‐minute walk test, reduced dyspnea (−1.45, 95% CI: −1.98–−0.92) in the modified Medical Research Council, and increased 0.63 kg (95% CI: 0.09–1.18 kg) of muscle mass in the upper limbs compared with the control group. Conclusion: The six‐week cardiopulmonary rehabilitation protocol improved functional capacity, reduced dyspnea, and increased muscle mass in the upper limbs in individuals with PCS. Thus, these results supported the protocol use in this population and encourage further studies to assess its effectiveness in a large sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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