Cardiovascular, respiratory and functional effects of tele-supervised home-based exercise training in individuals recovering from COVID-19 hospitalization: A randomized clinical trial

Our aim was to test the hypothesis that tele-supervised home-based exercise training (exercise) is an effective strategy for improving cardiovascular, respiratory, and functional capacity parameters in individuals that were hospitalized due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Thirty-two individuals (52 ± 10 years; 17F) randomly assigned to exercise (N = 12) and control groups (N = 20), had their anthropometric (weight, body mass index), hemodynamic (brachial and central blood pressure), vascular (arterial stiffness), ventilatory (pulmonary function and respiratory muscle strength), and functional parameters (handgrip strength, five-time sit to stand [FTSTS], timed up and go test [TUG] and six-minute walking test [6MWT]) assessed at baseline (30 to 45 days of hospital discharged) and after 12 weeks of follow-up. Both groups similarly increased (P < 0.001) forced vital capacity (absolute and % of predicted), forced expiratory volume in the first second (absolute and % of predicted), and handgrip strength during follow-up. However, only exercise group reduced carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (−2.0 ± 0.6 m/s, P = 0.048), and increased (P < 0.05) resting oxygen saturation (1.9 ± 0.6 %), mean inspiratory pressure (24.7 ± 7.1 cmH₂O), mean expiratory pressure (20.3 ± 5.8 cmH₂O) and % of predicted mean expiratory pressure (14 ± 22 %) during follow-up. No significant changes were found in any other variable during follow-up. Present findings suggest that tele-supervised home-based exercise training can a potential adjunct therapeutic to rehabilitate individuals that were hospitalized due to COVID-19.