Relationship between post-COVID-19 symptoms and daily physical activity

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Neurology
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS) presents exertion intolerance, mimicking myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).
• The relationship between PCS symptoms and physical activity requires further investigation for effective rehabilitation strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine longitudinal associations between PCS symptoms and daily physical activity.
• To investigate these associations while accounting for ME/CFS symptoms.
• To compare PCS patients with and without ME/CFS symptoms.

Main Methods:

• Adults with PCS underwent evaluations including dyspnea, fatigue, ME/CFS screening, and functional capacity assessments.
• Participants completed daily symptom surveys and wore smartwatches for a week to track physical activity (step count).
• Statistical analyses explored associations between symptoms and activity, adjusting for ME/CFS status.

Main Results:

• Dizziness was negatively associated with physical activity on the same and following day in PCS individuals.
• Lower fatigue and chest pain levels were linked to achieving ≥5,000 steps on the previous day.
• PCS patients with ME/CFS symptoms reported more severe PCS symptoms and lower functional capacity.

Conclusions:

• Dizziness significantly reduces physical activity in PCS patients, irrespective of ME/CFS symptom presence.
• Activity levels are influenced by preceding symptom severity, with lower fatigue and chest pain enabling greater activity.
• Wearable devices offer valuable data for monitoring PCS and tailoring interventions.