Recovery of Fatigue, Cardiorespiratory Fitness, and Neuromuscular Function in COVID-19 ICU Patients: A 6-Month...

Although most patients recover well from COVID-19 infection, this may not be the case of those who experienced severe dysfunction after being admitted to intensive care unit (ICU). This study aimed to assess the recovery of patients who experienced severe multiple dysfunctions after being admitted to ICU for COVID-19 infection.

Forty-seven patients hospitalized and mechanically ventilated in ICU for SARS-CoV-2 infection underwent evaluations at 4 to 8 wk (T1) and 6 months (T2) post-ICU discharge. Evaluations included questionnaires, lung function tests, incremental cardiopulmonary exercise testing, and neuromuscular function tests.

From T1 to T2, the percentage of patients classified as fatigued decreased from 56% to 21% whereas forced vital capacity and the forced expiratory volume in 1 s increased by 13% and 8% ( P < 0.05) to reach 93% and 95% of predicted values at T2, respectively. Peak work rate also increased from 97 to 135 W (+35 ± 32%, P < 0.001). Likewise, V̇O 2peak increased from 18.3 to 21.6 mL·min -1 ·kg -1 (+18 ± 27%, P < 0.001) to reach 72% of predicted values. Maximal strength and the number of contractions during the fatigability test increased between T1 and T2 by 41% and 39%, respectively (both P < 0.001).

Six months of recovery improved patients' physical function and reduced fatigue.