ARE YOU HAVING TROUBLE RESUMING YOUR EXERCISE PROGRAM? Long Covid-19 could be the culprit, according to a review of 38 published studies tracking exercise capacity.
Following a Covid-19 infection, many individuals with long Covid-19 experience persistent cardiopulmonary symptoms and challenges with exercise capacity.
Long Covid-19 affects up to 30 percent of individuals who suffer from an infection, with symptoms sometimes persisting for more than one year.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/long-term-effects/index.html
Deconditioning appears to be a major cause of diminished exercise capacity after COVID-19 hospitalization. Unfortunately, confounding variables and a lack of controls hobble the clinical literature.
Moreover, there has been no systematic review on cardiopulmonary exercise testing in long Covid-19. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) represents the gold standard for measuring exercise capacity and diagnosing exercise limitations.
Now comes a new study that uses cardiopulmonary testing to assess exercise capacity among those with a history of Covid-19 infection.
Long Covid-19 and exercise
Does exercise tolerance truly persist after a Covid-19 infection? University of California, San Francisco (USA) researchers reviewed 38 studies tracking the exercise performance of over 2,000 individuals with a history of Covid-19 infection.
After a preliminary review, they included nine studies. The examined literature included 359 participants who had recovered from a COVID infection and 464 who had long COVID symptoms.
The research investigations used data from cardiopulmonary testing. The scientists measured oxygen and carbon dioxide levels using a treadmill or a stationary bicycle. The subjects also had other measurements of their heart and lung capacity.
The studies reviewed relied on data from cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Participants’ oxygen and carbon dioxide levels were measured while using a treadmill or stationary bike. Researchers also collected other measures of heart and lung function.
Long Covid-19 & exercise capacity — Study results
More than three months after a Covid-19 infection, an individual's exercise capacity appeared similar to someone ten years older.
While it is not a proven symptom of long Covid-19, a drop in exercise capacity appears to be a consequence of the infection for some individuals. The lower capacity for those with long Covid lasts at least three months after infection.
The study also suggested that those with long Covid-19 may have irregular breathing patterns, decreased oxygen extraction in muscles, and a greater inability to increase heart rate during exercise.
The evaluations also demonstrated deconditioning. The researchers note that deconditioning does not account for all of the loss in exercise capacity.
My take — Long Covid and exercise
This study offers convincing evidence that patients with long Covid-19 can experience a significant drop in their capacity to exercise. Some even struggle to walk upstairs.
Covid infection may change our metabolism, including how oxygen exchange occurs in tissues. I hope a better understanding of the problem will enhance our rehabilitation strategies.
Thank you for joining me today.
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