Longitudinal strain and myocardial work in symptomatic patients having recovered from COVID-19 and possible associations with the severity of the disease.

COVID-19 may have residual consequences in multiple organs, including the cardiovascular system. The purpose of the present investigation is to quantify myocardial function in symptomatic individuals with long COVID and investigate the association between illness severity and myocardial function. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in which symptomatic individuals with previous COVID-19 underwent echocardiographic analysis of left ventricle global longitudinal strain (LVGLS) and myocardial work (MW). Individuals also performed cardiopulmonary testing (CPX) to assess peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak). Differences between illness severity subgroups were analyzed by the Mann-Whitney test. Correlations were calculated using the Spearman correlation test. Multilinear regressions were performed to evaluate the influences of COVID-19 severity, body mass index, age, and sex on MW. Fifty-six individuals were included (critical subgroup: 17; moderate/severe subgroup: 39), 59% females; median age: 56 years (IQR: 43-63). CPX revealed a substantial reduction in VO2peak (median of 53% of predicted values). LVGLS were not statistically different between subgroups. Global wasted work (GWW) was higher in the critical subgroup [146 (104-212) versus 121 (74-163) mmHg%, p = 0.01], and global work efficiency (GWE) was lower in this subgroup [93 (91-95) versus 94 (93-96), p = 0.03]. Illness severity was the only independent predictor of GWW and GWE (GWW: r2 = 0.167; p = 0.009; GWE: r2 = 0.172; p = 0.005) in multilinear regressions. In our study with long COVID-19 individuals, despite having a similar LVGLS, patients had subclinical LV dysfunction, demonstrated only by an increase in GWW and a decrease in GWE.

Moderate-intensity exercise with blood flow restriction on cardiopulmonary kinetics and efficiency during a subsequent high-intensity exercise in young women: A cross-sectional study.

ABSTRACT: Blood flow restriction (BFR) training applied prior to a subsequent exercise has been used as a method to induce changes in oxygen uptake pulmonary kinetics (O2P) and exercise performance. However, the effects of a moderate-intensity training associated with BFR on a subsequent high-intensity exercise on O2P and cardiac output (QT) kinetics, exercise tolerance, and efficiency remain unknown.This prospective physiologic study was performed at the Exercise Physiology Lab, University of Brasilia. Ten healthy females (mean ±â€ŠSD values: age = 21.3 ±â€Š2.2 years; height = 1.6 ±â€Š0.07 m, and weight = 55.6 ±â€Š8.8 kg) underwent moderate-intensity training associated with or without BFR for 6 minutes prior to a maximal high-intensity exercise bout. O2P, heart rate, and QT kinetics and gross efficiency were obtained during the high-intensity constant workload exercise test.No differences were observed in O2P, heart rate, and QT kinetics in the subsequent high-intensity exercise following BFR training. However, exercise tolerance and gross efficiency were significantly greater after BFR (220 ±â€Š45 vs 136 ±â€Š30 seconds; P < .05, and 32.8 ±â€Š6.3 vs 27.1 ±â€Š5.4%; P < .05, respectively), which also resulted in lower oxygen cost (1382 ±â€Š227 vs 1695 ±â€Š305 mL min-1).We concluded that moderate-intensity BFR training implemented prior to a high-intensity protocol did not accelerate subsequent O2P and QT kinetics, but it has the potential to improve both exercise tolerance and work efficiency at high workloads.

Resistance exercise enhances oxygen uptake without worsening cardiac function in patients with systolic heart failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Recent literature suggests that resistance training (RT) improves peak oxygen uptake ([Formula: see text] peak), similarly to aerobic exercise (AE) in patients with heart failure (HF), but its effect on cardiac remodeling is controversial. Thus, we examined the effects of RT and AE on [Formula: see text] peak and cardiac remodeling in patients with heart failure (HF) via a systematic review and meta-analysis. MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and CINAHL, AMEDEO and PEDro databases search were extracted study characteristics, exercise type, and ventricular outcomes. The main outcomes were [Formula: see text] peak (ml kg-1 min-1), LVEF (%) and LVEDV (mL). Fifty-nine RCTs were included. RT produced a greater increase in [Formula: see text] peak (3.57 ml kg-1 min-1, P < 0.00001, I 2 = 0%) compared to AE (2.63 ml kg-1 min-1, P < 0.00001, I 2 = 58%) while combined RT and AE produced a 2.48 ml kg-1 min-1 increase in [Formula: see text]; I 2 = 69%) compared to control group. Comparison among the three forms of exercise revealed similar effects on [Formula: see text] peak (P = 0.84 and 1.00, respectively; I 2 = 0%). AE was associated with a greater gain in LVEF (3.15%; P < 0.00001, I 2 = 17%) compared to RT alone or combined exercise which produced similar gains compared to control groups. Subgroup analysis revealed that AE reduced LVEDV (- 10.21 ml; P = 0.007, I 2 = 0%), while RT and combined RT and AE had no effect on LVEDV compared with control participants. RT results in a greater gain in [Formula: see text] peak, and induces no deleterious effects on cardiac function in HF patients.