The Impact of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation on Ventriculoarterial Coupling in Post-Coronavirus Disease-2019 Patients

Purpose: Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) affects the cardiovascular system even after the acute phase of the disease. Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation may improve post-COVID-19 symptoms. This study aims to evaluate the impact of a cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program after acute COVID-19 on arterial stiffness, left ventricular function, and ventriculoarterial coupling (VAC). Methods: Forty-eight adults were examined 1 (T0) and 3-mo (T1) following recovery from COVID-19 and randomized 1:1 to participate or not in a 3-mo rehabilitation program. Matched subjects were enrolled as a non-COVID-19 group. Arterial stiffness was evaluated by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV). Left ventricular (LV) systolic performance was evaluated with global longitudinal strain (GLS). The PWV/LV-GLS ratio was calculated as an index of VAC. High-sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP) was measured. Results: At T0, convalescent patients with COVID-19 had impaired PWV ( P = .001) and reduced VAC ( P = .001) compared to non-COVID-19 subjects. PWV (8.15 ± 1.37 to 6.55 ± 0.98 m/sec, P < .001) and LV-GLS (−19.67 ± 1.98 to −21.3 ± 1.93%, P < .001) improved only in convalescent patients with COVID-19 undergoing rehabilitation. Similarly, VAC was only improved in the rehabilitation group (−0.42 ± 0.11 to −0.31 ± 0.06 m · sec −1 ·% −1 , P < .001). A significant improvement in VO 2max was noted after rehabilitation (15.70 [13.05, 21.45] to 18.30 [13.95, 23.75] ml · kg −1 · min −1 , P = .01). Finally, hs-CRP was improved in both groups with a significantly greater improvement in the rehabilitation group. Conclusion: A 3-mo rehabilitation program in convalesced patients with COVID-19 enhances the recovery of arterial stiffness, left ventricular function, and VAC, highlighting the beneficial mechanisms of rehabilitation in this patient population.