Kerling Arno, Beyer Sebastian, Dirks Meike, Scharbau Michèle, Hennemann Ann-Katrin, Dopfer-Jablonka Alexandra, Lampe Viktoria, Salzmann Jakob Heinrich Wolfgang, Tegtbur Uwe, Drick Nora, Pink Isabell, Haufe Sven
Clinic for Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany.
Clinic for Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2024 Feb 2;16(1):33. doi: 10.1186/s13102-024-00817-5.
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.
We randomized 62 patients with PCS (20 male/ 42 female; age: 46 ± 12 years; body mass index: 28.7 ± 6.7 kg/m) 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.
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.
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.
German Clinical Trials Register (registration trial number: DRKS00026245) on September 2 2021.
新型冠状病毒肺炎后综合征（PCS）可在严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2感染后发生，导致日常活动受限。我们的研究评估了一项旨在促进身体活动的在线指导干预对PCS患者心理和身体能力的影响。
我们将62例PCS患者（20例男性/42例女性；年龄：46±12岁；体重指数：28.7±6.7kg/m²）随机分为两组，这些患者在疲劳评估量表（FAS）中的得分≥22分，一组接受为期3个月的以运动为重点的干预（干预组n = 30），另一组为对照期（对照组n = 32）。我们评估了运动能力（通过测量气体交换进行自行车运动测试）、疲劳、健康相关生活质量（HrQoL）标志物和心理健康的变化。
两个研究组的FAS评分均显著降低（干预组：从35.1±7.4降至31.8±8.5分；对照组：从35.6±7.4降至32.6±7.5分，p均<0.01）。对照组和干预组的运动能力均未提高（干预组组内变化：峰值摄氧量：0.9±2.6ml/min/kg，p = 0.098；峰值功率输出：6.1±17.8W，p = 0.076），HrQoL和工作能力无显著变化。基线FAS评分≥35（严重疲劳）的患者在3个月干预后运动能力无变化，而FAS<35分（中度疲劳）的患者亚组显示有改善，与研究组无关。
我们的3个月干预似乎适用于中度疲劳的患者，而那些疲劳更严重的患者似乎因其心理或身体健康状况受到过多限制，无法进行足以改善身体表现标志物的运动水平。
德国临床试验注册中心（注册试验编号：DRKS00026245），于2021年9月2日注册。
