Exercise modulation in inflammation and metabolic hormonal disorders of COVID-19 to decrease risk factors in coronary...

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Exercise Physiology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Sedentary lifestyles increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, posing risks to cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients.
• Patients with existing coronary heart disease (CHD) are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of inactivity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of 8-week combined exercise and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) interventions on specific biomarkers in CHD patients post-COVID-19.
• To compare the efficacy of combined training versus HIIT in mitigating cardiovascular risk factors.

Main Methods:

• Thirty-six patients with cardiovascular disease were randomized into three groups: combined exercise, HIIT, and a control group.
• The combined exercise group underwent 4 weeks of aerobic training followed by 4 weeks of aerobic plus HIIT.
• The HIIT group performed high-intensity interval training three times weekly for 8 weeks. Biomarkers including C-reactive protein (CRP), galectin-3, leptin, and fibrinogen were measured pre- and post-intervention.

Main Results:

• Both combined training and HIIT significantly reduced CRP, galectin-3, and fibrinogen levels compared to pre-training measurements.
• Insulin resistance index significantly decreased after 8 weeks of combined exercise compared to baseline.
• Post-intervention, CRP, galectin-3, and insulin resistance were significantly lower in both exercise groups compared to the control group.

Conclusions:

• Combined exercise training may offer superior benefits over HIIT for reducing metabolic and cardiac risk factors in CVD patients following an epidemic like COVID-19.
• Further research is warranted to understand the effects of these exercise modalities on leptin levels.