Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation in Long-COVID-19 Patients with Persistent Breathlessness and Fatigue: The COVID-Rehab Study, 2022, Besnier et al

[Andy]

Abstract

(1) Background: Cardiopulmonary and brain functions are frequently impaired after COVID-19 infection. Exercise rehabilitation could have a major impact on the healing process of patients affected by long COVID-19.

(2) Methods: The COVID-Rehab study will investigate the effectiveness of an eight-week cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program on cardiorespiratory fitness (V˙O2max) in long-COVID-19 individuals. Secondary objectives will include functional capacity, quality of life, perceived stress, sleep quality (questionnaires), respiratory capacity (spirometry test), coagulation, inflammatory and oxidative-stress profile (blood draw), cognition (neuropsychological tests), neurovascular coupling and pulsatility (fNIRS). The COVID-Rehab project was a randomised clinical trial with two intervention arms (1:1 ratio) that will be blindly evaluated. It will recruit a total of 40 individuals: (1) rehabilitation: centre-based exercise-training program (eight weeks, three times per week); (2) control: individuals will have to maintain their daily habits.

(3) Conclusions: Currently, there are no specific rehabilitation guidelines for long-COVID-19 patients, but preliminary studies show encouraging results.

Open access, https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/7/4133/htm

 

[Sean]

They are using some objective outcome measures, including the primary outcome, which is good.

But some concerns about the risk to those patients who have ME/LC type issues, particularly PEM. Hope they allow for that.

 

[Snow Leopard]

The COVID-Rehab study will be a randomised clinical trial, with two intervention arms (1:1 ratio) that will be blindly evaluated: (1) rehabilitation: centre-based exercise-training program (8 weeks, 3 times per week); (2) control: individuals will have to maintain their daily habits.

That isn't 'blindly evaluated', it is really obvious to the participants.

The researchers also seem to be making the mistake of assuming pulmonary symptoms and cardiorespiratory fitness is related to fatigue.