Investigation of physical activity, exercise capacity, fatigue, cognitive status in post-COVID syndrome

Abstract

Background: Individuals with Post-COVID are reported to exhibit sympathetic overactivation, vascular dysfunction, cardiac morpho-functional changes, and decreased exercise capacity compared to healthy controls.

Aim: To assess exercise capacity, physical activity level, fatigue and cognitive status of individuals with Post-COVID Syndrome.

Methods: Thirty patients (23M, 7F, 25.56±4.62 years) were included in the study. Physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire-IPAQ), exercise capacity (6-minute walk test), fatigue (Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy Fatigue-FACIT Scale) and cognitive status (Mini Mental State Test) were evaluated.

Results: According to the IPAQ score, 36% of the patients were inactive, 40% were minimally active, and 23% were very active. The average 6-minute walking distance was 518.03±167.84 meters. However only 3 people were able to complete the expected 6-minute walking test distance. The FACIT average was 17.77±12.25 points, while the Mini Mental State Test average was 27.67±2.12.

Conclusions: Fatigue and cognitive status of individuals with post-COVID syndrome were not affected according to the cut-off values. Patients can be included in an aerobic exercise program and conduct to physical activity counseling to alleviate prolonged symptom burden.