Developing effective strategies to optimize physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness in the long Covid population- The need for caution and objective assessment

Faghy, Mark A and Duncan, Rae and Hume, Emily and Gough, Lewis A. and Roscoe, Clare and Laddu, Deepika and Arena, Ross and Asthon, Ruth E M and Dalton, Caroline (2024) Developing effective strategies to optimize physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness in the long Covid population- The need for caution and objective assessment. Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases, 83. pp. 62-70. ISSN 0033-0620

[thumbnail of 1-s2.0-S0033062024000392-main.pdf]
Preview
Text
1-s2.0-S0033062024000392-main.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.

Download (1MB)

Abstract

The Post Covid-19 Condition (commonly known as Long Covid) has been defined by the World Health Organisation as occurring in individuals with a history of probable or confirmed SARS CoV 2 infection, usually within 3 months from the onset of acute Covid-19 infection with symptoms that last for at least two months which cannot be explained by an alternative diagnosis. Long Covid is associated with over two hundred recognised symptoms and affects tens of millions of people worldwide. Widely reported reductions in quality of life(QoL) and functional status are caused by extremely sensitive and cyclical symptom profiles that are augmented following exposure to physical, emotional, orthostatic, and cognitive stimuli. This manifestation prevents millions of people from engaging in routine activities of daily living (ADLs) and has important health and well-being, social and economic impacts. Post-exertional symptom exacerbation (PESE) (also known as post-exertional malaise) is an exacerbation in the severity of fatigue and other symptoms following physical, emotional, orthostatic and cognitive tasks. Typically, this will occur 24-72 h after "over-exertion" and can persist for several days and even weeks. It is a hallmark symptom of Long Covid with a reported prevalence of 86%. The debilitating nature of PESE prevents patients from engaging in physical activity which impacts functional status and QoL. In this review, the authors present an update to the literature relating to PESE in Long Covid and make the case for evidence-based guidelines that support the design and implementation of safe rehabilitation approaches for people with Long Covid. This review also considers the role of objective monitoring to quantify a patient's response to external stimuli which can be used to support the safe management of Long Covid and inform decisions relating to engagement with any stimuli that could prompt an exacerbation of symptoms.

Item Type: Article
Identification Number: 10.1016/j.pcad.2024.03.003
Dates:
Date
Event
1 March 2024
Accepted
8 March 2024
Published Online
Uncontrolled Keywords: COVID, Long COVID, Physical activity, Cardiorespiratory fitness, Exertional fatigue
Subjects: CAH03 - biological and sport sciences > CAH03-02 - sport and exercise sciences > CAH03-02-01 - sport and exercise sciences
Divisions: Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences > College of Life Sciences
Depositing User: Lewis Gough
Date Deposited: 13 Aug 2024 08:53
Last Modified: 13 Aug 2024 08:56
URI: https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/15716

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item

Research

In this section...