Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39379918›Full record

ArticleBMC medicine2024

Sex-specific differences of cardiopulmonary fitness and pulmonary function in exercise-based rehabilitation of patients with long-term post-COVID-19 syndrome.

René Garbsch, Hendrik Schäfer, Mona Kotewitsch, Johanna M Mooren, Melina Waranski, Marc Teschler, Katalin Vereckei, Gereon Böll, Frank C Mooren, Boris Schmitz

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC medicine, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
10citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

10 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

René GarbschDepartment of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Germany.
Hendrik SchäferDepartment of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Germany.
Mona KotewitschDepartment of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Germany.
Johanna M MoorenDepartment of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Germany.
Melina WaranskiDepartment of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Germany.
Marc TeschlerDepartment of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Germany.
Katalin VereckeiDepartment of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Germany.
Gereon BöllDepartment of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Germany.
Frank C MoorenDepartment of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Germany.
Boris SchmitzDepartment of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Germany. boris.schmitz@uni-wh.de.ORCID 0000-0001-7041-7424

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPost-COVID-19 Syndrome (PCS) entails a spectrum of symptoms, including fatigue, reduced physical performance, dyspnea, cognitive impairment, and psychological distress. Given the effectiveness of exercise-based rehabilitation for PCS, this study examined the efficacy of rehabilitation for PCS patients, focusing on sex-specific differences.

methodsProspective cohort study during inpatient rehabilitation. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing and spirometry were performed at admission and discharge. Questionnaires were used to assess fatigue, health-related quality of life, wellbeing, and workability for up to 6 months.

results145 patients (36% female, 47.1 ± 12.7 years; 64% male, 52.0 ± 9.1 years; p = 0.018) were referred to rehabilitation 262.0 ± 128.8 days after infection (female, 285.5 ± 140.6 days; male, 248.8 ± 112.0 days; p = 0.110). Lead symptoms included fatigue/exercise intolerance (81.4%), shortness of breath (74.5%), and cognitive dysfunction (52.4%). Women presented with higher relative baseline exercise capacity (82.0 ± 14.3%) than males (68.8 ± 13.3%, p < 0.001), but showed greater improvement in submaximal workload (p = 0.026). Men exhibited higher values for FEV1, FEV1/VC, PEF, and MEF and lower VC at baseline (p ≤ 0.038), while FEV1/VC improvement more in women (p = 0.027). Higher baseline fatigue and lower wellbeing was detected in women and correlated with impaired pulmonary function (p < 0.05). Disease perception including fatigue, health-related quality of life, wellbeing and workability improved with rehabilitation for up to six-month.

conclusionsRehabilitation improves cardiopulmonary fitness, pulmonary function and disease burden in women and men with long-term PCS. Women with PCS may benefit from intensified respiratory muscle training. Clinical assessment should include cardiopulmonary exercise testing and pulmonary function tests and fatigue assessments for all PCS patients to document limitations and tailor therapeutical strategies.

Indexed as

COVID-19Quality of LifeAdultCardiorespiratory FitnessExercise TestExercise TherapyFatigueFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPost-Acute COVID-19 SyndromeProspective StudiesRespiratory Function TestsSARS-CoV-2Sex FactorsExercise-based rehabilitationFatigueLong-COVIDSARS-CoV-2Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

Identifiers

PMID39379918
PMCPMC11463035

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.