Effects of Different Protocols of Moderate-Intensity Intermittent Hypoxic Training on Mental Health and Quality of Life in Brazilian Adults Recovered from COVID-19: The AEROBICOVID Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Study

Eugenio Merellano-Navarro; Marta Camacho-Cardenosa; Gabriel Peinado Costa; Ester Wiggers; Germano Marcolino Putti; Jonatas Evandro Nogueira; Elisangela Aparecida da Silva Lizzi; Átila Alexandre Trapé

doi:10.3390/healthcare11233076

Effects of Different Protocols of Moderate-Intensity Intermittent Hypoxic Training on Mental Health and Quality of Life in Brazilian Adults Recovered from COVID-19: The AEROBICOVID Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Study

Healthcare (Basel). 2023 Nov 30;11(23):3076. doi: 10.3390/healthcare11233076.

Authors

Eugenio Merellano-Navarro¹, Marta Camacho-Cardenosa², Gabriel Peinado Costa³, Ester Wiggers⁴, Germano Marcolino Putti³, Jonatas Evandro Nogueira³, Elisangela Aparecida da Silva Lizzi⁵, Átila Alexandre Trapé³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physical Activity Sciences, Faculty of Education Sciences, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca 3460000, Chile.
² Clinical Management Unit of Endocrinology and Nutrition-GC17, Maimónides Biomedical Research Institute of Cordoba (IMIBIC), Reina Sofía University Hospital, 14004 Córdoba, Spain.
³ School of Physical Education and Sport of Ribeirao Preto, University of Sao Paulo (USP), Ribeirao Preto 14040900, SP, Brazil.
⁴ Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo (USP), Ribeirao Preto 14040900, SP, Brazil.
⁵ Academic Department of Mathematics, Federal University of Technology-Paraná, Cornélio Procópio 86300000, PR, Brazil.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different protocols of moderate-intensity intermittent hypoxic training in patients who had recovered from COVID-19 on quality of life (QoL) and mental health. The sample of this clinical trial-controlled double-blind study consisted of 67 participants aged 30-69 years, who were organized randomly according to Normoxia, Hypoxia, Hypoxia Recovery or Control Group. Eight weeks of cycle ergometer training were performed with a frequency of three training sessions per week in normoxic or hypoxic conditions (with or without hypoxic recovery). Health-related QoL and Mental Health Status were evaluated by 12-Item Short Form Survey and Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale instruments, respectively. All training groups improved the QoL's physical dimensions (Baseline-Post: Normoxia Group 42.1 (11.0)-48.7 (7.0), Hypoxia Group 46.9 (11.8)-53.5 (6.6) and Hypoxia Recovery Group 45.8 (9.2)-51.1 (5.3)) and mental dimensions (Baseline-Post: Normoxia Group 48.8 (7.9)-54.6 (4.6), Hypoxia Group 45.2 (7.7)-53.2 (3.8) and Hypoxia Recovery Group 46.5 (9.7)-52.0 (9.9)). Regarding mental health outcomes, all training groups decreased depressive symptoms (66.7% Normoxia, 31.2% Hypoxia Recovery and 31% Hypoxia groups), anxiety symptoms (46.5% Normoxia, 45.9% Hypoxia Recovery and 39.5% in the Hypoxia groups) and stress symptoms (40.6% Normoxia, 36.3% Hypoxia Recovery and 22.1% Hypoxia groups). Significant statistical difference was not found between groups. Normoxic and hypoxic training showed a similar effect on QoL and the mental health of Brazilian adults who had recovered from COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; depression; hypoxic training; mental health; physical exercise; quality of life.

Grants and funding

The present study received funding from the ‘USP Vida’ Project (code—3518/2020) and the Integrated Research Projects in Strategic Areas (PIPAE 2021.1.10424.1.9) from the Dean of Research, USP. The funder was not involved in the study design, collection, analysis, interpretation of data, the writing of this article or the decision to submit it for publication.