Relationship between Cardiopulmonary, Mitochondrial and Autonomic Nervous System Function Improvement after an Individualised Activity Programme upon Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients

Sławomir Kujawski; Jo Cossington; Joanna Słomko; Monika Zawadka-Kunikowska; Małgorzata Tafil-Klawe; Jacek J Klawe; Katarzyna Buszko; Djordje G Jakovljevic; Mariusz Kozakiewicz; Karl J Morten; Helen Dawes; James W L Strong; Modra Murovska; Jessica Van Oosterwijck; Fernando Estevez-Lopez; Julia L Newton; Lynette Hodges; Paweł Zalewski; On Behalf Of The European Network On Me/Cfs Euromene

doi:10.3390/jcm10071542

Relationship between Cardiopulmonary, Mitochondrial and Autonomic Nervous System Function Improvement after an Individualised Activity Programme upon Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients

J Clin Med. 2021 Apr 6;10(7):1542. doi: 10.3390/jcm10071542.

Authors

Sławomir Kujawski¹, Jo Cossington², Joanna Słomko¹, Monika Zawadka-Kunikowska¹, Małgorzata Tafil-Klawe³, Jacek J Klawe¹, Katarzyna Buszko⁴, Djordje G Jakovljevic⁵, Mariusz Kozakiewicz⁶, Karl J Morten⁷, Helen Dawes^{2

8}, James W L Strong⁷, Modra Murovska⁹, Jessica Van Oosterwijck^{10

11}, Fernando Estevez-Lopez¹², Julia L Newton¹³, Lynette Hodges¹⁴, Paweł Zalewski¹, On Behalf Of The European Network On Me/Cfs Euromene

Affiliations

¹ Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology, Ergonomy and Postgraduate Education, Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, M. Sklodowskiej-Curie 9, 85-094 Bydgoszcz, Poland.
² Centre for Movement Occupational and Rehabilitation Sciences, Department of Sport, Health Sciences and Social Work, Oxford Brookes University, Headington Rd, Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK.
³ Department of Human Physiology, Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Karłowicza 24, 85-092 Bydgoszcz, Poland.
⁴ Department of Biostatistics and Biomedical Systems Theory, Collegium Medicum, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Jagiellonska Street, 85-067 Bydgoszcz, Poland.
⁵ Institute of Health and Wellbeing, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Priory St, Coventry CV1 5FB, UK.
⁶ Department of Geriatrics, Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, M. Sklodowskiej-Curie 9, 85-094 Bydgoszcz, Poland.
⁷ Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health, The Women Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK.
⁸ NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford OX3 7JX, UK.
⁹ Institute of Microbiology and Virology, Riga Stradiņš University, LV-1067 Riga, Latvia.
¹⁰ Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
¹¹ Research Foundation-Flanders (FWO), 1000 Brussels, Belgium.
¹² Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Postbus 2060, 3000 CB Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
¹³ Population Health Sciences Institute, The Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE2 4AX, UK.
¹⁴ School of Sport, Exercise and Nutrition, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.

Abstract

Background: The therapeutic effects of exercise from structured activity programmes have recently been questioned; as a result, this study examines the impact of an Individualised Activity Program (IAP) on the relationship with cardiovascular, mitochondrial and fatigue parameters.

Methods: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients were assessed using Chalder Fatigue Questionnaire (CFQ), Fatigue Severity Score (FSS) and the Fatigue Impact Scale (FIS). VO₂peak, VO₂submax and heart rate (HR) were assessed using cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Mfn1 and Mfn2 levels in plasma were assessed. A Task Force Monitor was used to assess ANS functioning in supine rest and in response to the Head-Up Tilt Test (HUTT).

Results: Thirty-four patients completed 16 weeks of the IAP. The CFQ, FSS and FIS scores decreased significantly along with a significant increase in Mfn1 and Mfn2 levels (p = 0.002 and p = 0.00005, respectively). The relationships between VO₂ peak and Mfn1 increase in response to IAP (p = 0.03) and between VO₂ at anaerobic threshold and ANS response to the HUTT (p = 0.03) were noted.

Conclusions: It is concluded that IAP reduces fatigue and improves functional performance along with changes in autonomic and mitochondrial function. However, caution must be applied as exercise was not well tolerated by 51% of patients.

Keywords: autonomic nervous system; chronic fatigue syndrome; exercise; mitofusin; myalgic encephalomyelitis; oxygen consumption.

Grants and funding

CA15111/European Cooperation in Science and Technology