Kennouche D; Université Jean Monnet Saint-Etienne, Lyon 1, Saint-Etienne, FRANCE.
Foschia C; Brownstein CG; Gondin J; Lapole T; Rimaud D; Royer N; Thiery G;  Gauthier V; Giraux P; Oujamaa L; Sorg M; Vergès S; Doutreleau S; Marillier M; Prudent M; Bitker L; SFéasson L; Gergelé L; Stauffer E; Guichon C;

Medicine and science in sports and exercise [Med Sci Sports Exerc] 2025 Jun 13.
Date of Electronic Publication: 2025 Jun 13.

Purpose: Although most patients recover well from Covid-19 infection, this may not be the case of those who experienced severe dysfunction after being admitted to intensive care unit (ICU). This study aimed to assess the recovery of patients who experienced severe multiple dysfunctions after being admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) for Covid-19 infection.
Methods: Forty-seven patients hospitalized and mechanically ventilated in ICU for SARS-CoV-2 infection underwent evaluations at 4-8 weeks (T1) and 6 months (T2) post ICU discharge. Evaluations included questionnaires, lung function tests, incremental cardiopulmonary exercise testing, and neuromuscular function tests.
Results: From T1 to T2, the percentage of patients classified as fatigued decreased from 56% to 21% whereas forced vital capacity and the forced expiratory volume in one second increased by 13% and 8% (p < 0.05) to reach 93% and 95% of predicted values at T2, respectively. Peak work rate also increased from 97 to 135 W (+35 ± 32%, p < 0.001). Likewise, V̇O2peak increased from 18.3 to 21.6 ml/min/kg (+18 ± 27%, p < 0.001) to reach 72% of predicted values. Maximal strength and the number of contractions during the fatigability test increased between T1 and T2 by 41% and 39%, respectively (both p < 0.001).
Conclusions: Six months of recovery improved patients’ physical function and reduced fatigue.