Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Neuromuscular Function of Mechanically Ventilated ICU COVID-19 Patients*

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the current study was to investigate the level of cardiorespiratory fitness and neuromuscular function of ICU survivors after COVID-19 and to examine whether these outcomes are related to ICU stay/mechanical ventilation duration. DESIGN: Prospective nonrandomized study. SETTING: Patients hospitalized in ICU for COVID-19 infection. PATIENTS: Sixty patients hospitalized in ICU (mean duration: 31.9 ± 18.2 d) were recruited 4–8 weeks post discharge from ICU. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Patients visited the laboratory on two separate occasions. The first visit was dedicated to quality of life questionnaire, cardiopulmonary exercise testing, whereas measurements of the knee extensors neuromuscular function were performed in the second visit. Maximal oxygen uptake (Vo2max) was 18.3 ± 4.5 mL·min–1·kg-1, representing 49% ± 12% of predicted value, and was significantly correlated with ICU stay/mechanical ventilation (MV) duration (R = –0.337 to –0.446; p
Source: Critical Care Medicine - Category: Emergency Medicine Tags: Feature Articles Source Type: research