Efficacy of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation on Cardiorespiratory Function in Patients with Long COVID Syndrome

Q: What are the key findings of this study?

A structured cardiorespiratory rehabilitation program significantly improved functional capacity in patients with Long COVID syndrome, increasing peak VO2 by 18.85% compared to baseline.

Q: What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Observational. Population: Long COVID syndrome (n=67). Intervention: Cardiorespiratory rehabilitation vs. Baseline (pre-intervention). Primary outcome: Peak VO2 (mL/kg/min) (+18.85% change, p=<0.0001).

Q: What question did this study set out to answer?

To evaluate functional capacity impairments using cardiopulmonary exercise testing and assess the effects of a structured cardiorespiratory rehabilitation program in patients with long COVID syndrome.

Silvia Sarullo; Cinzia Nugara; Annamaria Lo Voi; Antonino Zarcone; G Di Francesco; Sergio Bosco; Sergio Carollo; Luigi Mazzara; Francesco Giallauria; Francesco Cappello; Filippo M. Sarullo

doi:10.36660/abchf.20250007i

April 1, 2025ABC Heart Failure & CardiomyopathyOpen Access

Efficacy of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation on Cardiorespiratory Function in Patients with Long COVID Syndrome

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Key result

Structured cardiorespiratory rehab linked to ~19% increase in peak VO2 for Long COVID patients.

+18.85% change
P<0.0001
n=67

Why the study?

To evaluate functional capacity limitations using CPET and quantify the effects of a structured cardiorespiratory rehabilitation program in patients with Long COVID syndrome.

Does a supervised cardiorespiratory rehabilitation program improve functional capacity in outpatients with Long COVID syndrome?

Key Points

To evaluate functional capacity impairments using cardiopulmonary exercise testing and assess the effects of a structured cardiorespiratory rehabilitation program in patients with long COVID syndrome.
Prospective observational study evaluating 67 outpatients with long COVID syndrome who completed baseline and post-intervention cardiopulmonary exercise testing (out of 74 enrolled).
Patients underwent a supervised outpatient rehabilitation program based on interval training delivered by a multidisciplinary team for 3 to 6 cycles over a median follow-up of 45 days (range 45-90 days).
Peak VO2 increased from 19.47 ± 7.86 to 23.14 ± 7.88 mL/kg/min (Δ% = +18.85%; p < 0.0001), and peak workload rose from 91.62 ± 47.90 to 116.19 ± 45.80 Watts (Δ% = +26.82%; p < 0.0001).
Resting heart rate decreased from 85.95 ± 15.67 to 78.31 ± 13.23 bpm (Δ% = –8.88%; p < 0.0001), ventilation increased from 57.83 ± 17.37 to 75.45 ± 18.85 L/min (Δ% = +30.46%; p < 0.0001), and O2 pulse rose from 10.65 ± 3.11 to 12.12 ± 3.43 mL/beat (Δ% = +13.68%; p < 0.0001).
Sedentary patients with comorbidities achieved the greatest relative improvements in peak VO2 (+29.10%, from 13.78 ± 3.48 to 17.79 ± 4.57 mL/kg/min; p < 0.0001) and peak workload (+48.17%, from 61.45 ± 28.50 to 91.05 ± 35.47 W; p < 0.0001).

Study Design

Type

Observational (n=67)

Multicenter

No

Structured PICO

Does a supervised cardiorespiratory rehabilitation program improve functional capacity in outpatients with Long COVID syndrome?

P

Population

67 outpatients with Long COVID syndrome (LCS) at least 4 weeks after recovery from SARS-CoV-2 infection, age ≥ 18 years, preserved LVEF (>55%), mean age 45.74, 52% male.

I

Intervention

Supervised outpatient cardiorespiratory rehabilitation (CR) program based on interval training (300 minutes/week, 5 days/week) for 1.5 to 3 months (3 to 6 cycles).

O

Outcome

Functional capacity assessed by cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) parameters including VO2peak, O2 pulse, and VE/VCO2 slope at median 45 days follow-up.surrogate

Main Result

Effect estimate: +18.85% change

Absolute Event Rate: 23.14% vs 19.47%

p-value: p=<0.0001

Exercise-based cardiorespiratory rehabilitation significantly improves functional capacity, including VO2peak and ventilatory efficiency, in patients with Long COVID syndrome.

Limitations

Absence of a control group
Potential selection bias as individuals unable to finish the cardiopulmonary exercise testing were excluded

Implication

Hypothesis-generating for CR in LCS; prospective RCTs needed before clinical adoption.**[[1]](https://www.abcheartfailure.

Discussion

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Cite This Study

Sarullo et al. (2025) conducted an observational in Long COVID syndrome (n=67). Cardiorespiratory rehabilitation vs. Baseline (pre-intervention) was evaluated on Peak VO2 (mL/kg/min) (+18.85% change, p=<0.0001). A structured cardiorespiratory rehabilitation program significantly improved functional capacity in patients with Long COVID syndrome, increasing peak VO2 by 18.85% compared to baseline.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69fd7ddcbfa21ec5bbf06054 https://doi.org/10.36660/abchf.20250007i

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Efficacy of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation on Cardiorespiratory Function in Patients with Long COVID Syndrome

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Implication

Discussion

Cite This Study

Efficacy of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation on Cardiorespiratory Function in Patients with Long COVID Syndrome

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Implication

Discussion

Cite This Study

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