Health-Related Physical Fitness and Biochemical Parameters in Overweight Older People during Social Isolation Imposed by the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal and Observational Study.

With COVID-19, evidence indicates that the elderly will have worse biochemical markers related to health in social isolation. The objective was to analyze the impacts on physical fitness and biochemical parameters of older adults' health during COVID-19 social isolation. Quantitative, longitudinal, and observational study was conducted between 2020, 2021, and 2022. Thirty-three older adults of both sexes were evaluated. A sociodemographic questionnaire, biomarkers, and health-related physical fitness were used. Significant differences were observed for the sum of maximum isometric right and left handgrip strength, with a reduction in 2022 (p = 0.009); getting up and walking (p < 0.001), reduction in 2021 and 2022 (p < 0.05); elbow flexion and extension (p = 0.004), reduction in 2021 (p = 0.006); and sitting and standing (p = 0.002), reduction in 2022 (p = 0.003) and peak oxygen consumption (p < 0.001), reduction in 2021 and 2022 (p < 0.05). Differences were observed in fasting blood glucose (p < 0.001), with increase in 2021 and 2022 (p < 0.05), triglycerides (p < 0.001), with increase in 2021 and 2022 (p < 0.05), triglyceride-glucose index (p < 0.001), with increase in 2021 and 2022 (p < 0.05), triglyceride-glucose index with waist circumference (p < 0.001), with increase in 2021 (p < 0.001); and triglyceride-glucose index with body mass index (p < 0.001), with increase in 2021 (p < 0.001). However, no differences were observed between anthropometric and body composition (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Older people had changes in biochemical and physical fitness parameters related to health during the social isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness of overweight COVID-19 survivors in different severity degrees: a cohort study.

COVID-19 sequelae are varied, and whether they are temporary or permanent is still unknown. Identifying these sequelae may guide therapeutic strategies to improve these individuals' recovery. This prospective cohort aimed to assess body composition, cardiopulmonary fitness, and long-term symptoms of overweight individuals affected by COVID-19. Participants (n = 90) were divided into three groups according to the severity of acute COVID-19: mild (no hospitalization), moderate (hospitalization, without oxygen support), and severe/critical cases (hospitalized in Intensive Care Unit). We assessed body composition with a tetrapolar multifrequency bioimpedance, hemodynamic variables (heart rate, blood pressure, and peripheral oxygen saturation-SpO2) at rest, and the Bruce test with direct gas exchange. Two assessments with a one-year interval were performed. The most prevalent long-term symptoms were memory deficit (66.7%), lack of concentration (51.7%), fatigue (65.6%), and dyspnea (40%). Bruce test presented a time effect with an increase in the distance walked after 1 year just for severe/critical group (p < 0.05). SpO2 was significantly lower in the severe/critical group up to 5 min after the Bruce test when compared to the mild group, and diastolic blood pressure at the end of the Bruce test was significantly higher in the severe/critical group when compared to mild group (p < 0.05; for all comparisons). A time effect was observed for body composition, with increased lean mass, skeletal muscle mass, fat-free mass, and lean mass just for the severe/critical group after 1 year (p < 0.05). Cardiopulmonary fitness parameters did not differ among the groups, except for respiratory quotient with higher values for the severe/critical group when compared to itself after 1 year. All COVID-19 patients might present long-term sequelae, regardless of the acute disease severity. Reassessing and identifying the most prevalent long-term sequelae are essential to perform more precise health promotion interventions.

Effects of a Multi-Professional Intervention on Mental Health of Middle-Aged Overweight Survivors of COVID-19: A Clinical Trial.

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of a multi-professional intervention model on the mental health of middle-aged, overweight survivors of COVID-19. A clinical trial study with parallel groups and repeated measures was conducted. For eight weeks, multi-professional interventions were conducted (psychoeducation, nutritional intervention, and physical exercises). One hundred and thirty-five overweight or obese patients aged 46.46 ± 12.77 years were distributed into four experimental groups: mild, moderate, severe COVID, and control group. The instruments were used: mental health continuum-MHC, revised impact scale-IES-r, generalized anxiety disorder-GAD-7, and Patient health questionnaire PHQ-9, before and after eight weeks. The main results indicated only a time effect, with a significant increase in global MHC scores, emotional well-being, social well-being, and psychological well-being, as well as detected a significant reduction in global IES-R scores, intrusion, avoidance, and hyperarousal, in addition to a reduction in GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scores (p < 0.05). In conclusion, it was possible to identify those psychoeducational interventions that effectively reduced anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress symptoms in post-COVID-19 patients, regardless of symptomatology, in addition to the control group. However, moderate and severe post-COVID-19 patients need to be monitored continuously since the results of these groups did not follow the response pattern of the mild and control groups.

Body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness in overweight or obese people post COVID-19: A comparative study.

The present study aimed to evaluate the body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness of overweight or obese people after COVID-19. 171 volunteers of both sexes (men, n = 93 and women, n = 78) between 19 and 65 years old were allocated into three groups according to the severity of their symptoms of COVID-19: non-hospitalized people/mild symptoms (n = 61), hospitalized (n = 58), and hospitalized in an intensive care unit-ICU (n = 52). Two laboratory visits were carried out 24 h apart. First, a medical consultation was carried out, with subsequent measurement of body weight and height (calculation of body mass index) and body composition assessment via electrical bioimpedance. After 24 h, a cardiorespiratory test was performed using the Bruce protocol, with a direct gas exchange analysis. Hospitalized individuals had significantly higher values for fat mass and body fat percentage than non-hospitalized individuals (p < 0.05). Significantly higher values were found for heart rate (HR) and peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) for individuals who were not hospitalized when compared to those hospitalized in the ICU (p < 0.05). Significantly higher values for distance, ventilation, and the relationship between respiratory quotient were found for non-hospitalized individuals compared to hospitalized individuals and those in the ICU (p < 0.05). After the cardiorespiratory test, higher values for peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) were observed for non-hospitalized individuals than for all hospitalized individuals (p < 0.05). Diastolic blood pressure was significantly higher at the tenth and fifteenth minute post-Bruce test in hospitalized than in non-hospitalized participants (p < 0.05). Based on these results, proposals for cardiopulmonary rehabilitation are indispensable for hospitalized groups considering the responses of blood pressure. Monitoring HR, SpO2, and blood pressure are necessary during rehabilitation to avoid possible physical complications. Volume and intensity of exercise prescription should respect the physiologic adaptation. Given lower physical conditioning among all the groups, proposals for recovering from health conditions are urgent and indispensable for COVID-19 survivors.