Exercise capacity (A: VO2_max; B: 6MWT) and pulmonary capacity (C: FEV₁; D: FVC_ex) in relation to the norm values.

Exercise capacity (A: VO2max; B: 6MWT) and pulmonary capacity (C: FEV1; D: FVCex) in relation to the norm values.</p

Subscales of the HrQoL questionnaire for men and women compared to the norm values.

Subscales of the HrQoL questionnaire for men and women compared to the norm values.</p

Subject characteristics at baseline.

PurposePost-Covid-19 syndrome is defined as the persistence of symptoms beyond 3 months after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. The most common symptoms include reduced exercise tolerance and capacity, fatigue, neurocognitive problems, muscle pain and dyspnea. The aim of our work was to investigate exercise capacity and markers of subjective wellbeing and their independent relation to post-COVID-19 syndrome.Patients and methodsWe examined a total of 69 patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome (23 male/46 female; age 46±12 years; BMI 28.9±6.6 kg/m2) with fatigue and a score ≥22 in the Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS). We assessed exercise capacity on a cycle ergometer, a 6-minute walk test, the extent of fatigue (FAS), markers of health-related quality of life (SF-36 questionnaire) and mental health (HADS).ResultsOn average the Fatigue Assessment Scale was 35.0±7.4 points. Compared with normative values the VO2max/kg was reduced by 8.6±5.8 ml/min/kg (27.7%), the 6MWT by 71±96 m (11.9%), the health-related quality of life physical component score by 15.0±9.0 points (29.9%) and the mental component score by 10.6±12.8 points (20.6%). Subdivided into mild fatigue (FAS score 22–34) and severe fatigue (FAS score ≥35), patients with severe fatigue showed a significant reduction of the 6-minute walk test by 64±165 m (pConclusionPatients with post-COVID-19 syndrome show reduced maximal and submaximal physical performance as well as limitations in quality of life, particularly pronounced in the physical components. These results are essentially influenced by the severity of fatigue and implicating the need for targeted treatments.</div

Exercise capacity (A: VO2_max; B: 6MWT) and HrQoL (C: Physical component score; D: Mental component score) divided into mild and severe fatigue based on FAS score.

The framed p-values are given for differences between mild and severe fatigue as analyzed by Student t test for unpaired samples. Data are mean ± SD.</p

Subscales of the HrQoL questionnaire for men and women compared to the norm values.

Subscales of the HrQoL questionnaire for men and women compared to the norm values.</p

Additional file 1 of Effects of a randomized-controlled and online-supported physical activity intervention on exercise capacity, fatigue and health related quality of life in patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome

Supplementary Material