Efeitos de um protocolo de reabilitação cardiopulmonar na capacidade funcional, dispneia, fadiga e composição corporal em indivíduos com síndrome pós-covid-19 : um ensaio clínico, controlado e randomizado

Abstract

Introduction: Individuals infected with COVID-19 may suffer from the persistence of one or more symptoms after the acute period of infection, these medium to long-term symptoms characterize a condition called “Post COVID-19 Syndrome” (PCS) or “COVID long”, the symptoms are diverse, such as: fatigue, dyspnea, loss of muscle mass and reduced functional capacity. Thus, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation emerges as a viable, effective, safe and low-cost therapy for the treatment of this clinical condition. Objective: To analyze the effects of a cardiopulmonary rehabilitation protocol on functional capacity, dyspnea, fatigue and body composition in patients with PCS. Methods: This is a clinical, controlled and randomized trial, composed of individuals with PCS. 33 individuals were recruited, divided into two groups, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation group (n=17) and control group (n=16). The cardiopulmonary rehabilitation group performed a protocol consisting of lung expansion therapy, respiratory, aerobic and resistance muscle training. Functional capacity, dyspnea, fatigue and body composition were evaluated before and after the protocol. Results: After six weeks, the cardiopulmonary rehabilitation group had increased functional capacity, with a difference of 100.46 m (95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.40 to 193 m) in the distance covered in the sixminute walk test minutes, reduced dyspnea (-1.45, 95% CI: -1.98 to -0.92) in the modified Medical Research Council, and increased by 0.63 kg (95% CI: 0.09 to 1.18 kg) of muscle mass in the upper limbs compared to the control group. Conclusion: Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation improved functional capacity, reduced the sensation of dyspnea and promoted muscle mass gain in the upper limbs of individuals with PCS.